de-emphasize
|de-em-pha-size|
/ˌdiːˈɛm.fə.saɪz/
reduce emphasis
Etymology
'de-emphasize' is formed from the prefix 'de-' (from Latin 'de-') meaning 'remove' or 'reduce' and the verb 'emphasize', which comes from Greek 'emphainein' via Latin and French.
'emphainein' in Ancient Greek produced the noun 'emphasis' (Greek ), which passed into Latin and Old French; 'emphasize' was later formed in English, and 'de-' was added to create 'de-emphasize' meaning the opposite action.
Originally 'emphasize' meant 'to show or give prominence'; adding the prefix 'de-' created 'de-emphasize', which initially meant 'to remove emphasis' and has come to mean 'to reduce importance or prominence' in general usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to reduce the importance, prominence, or emphasis placed on something.
The editor de-emphasized the anecdote to keep the article focused on the main issue.
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Verb 2
to make something less noticeable or less prominent in presentation, design, or speech (often by reducing visual or verbal emphasis).
The designer de-emphasized the background by using muted colors so the product would stand out.
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Last updated: 2025/11/04 01:52