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noun Uncommon

Emmy

EH-mee

Emmy (noun) means a television award given in the United States for excellence in the industry, similar to the Oscars for film. Example: “The show won an Emmy for best drama series.”

noun
1
A television award given in the United States for excellence in the industry, similar to the Oscars for film.
"The show won an Emmy for best drama series."
"She was nominated for an Emmy for her role in the miniseries."

How to Use Emmy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe top TV industry award, handed out every year in the US.

Common pairings
win an Emmy Emmy-nominated Emmy Awards

Word Forms

Emmys plural, Emmys plural

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The show won an _____ for best drama series.

Etymology

Shortened from "Immy," a nickname for the image orthicon camera tube, later feminized to match the award's statuette design.

television award

Rhymes for Emmy

See all rhymes for Emmy →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “Emmy” mean?

The word “Emmy” means a television award given in the United States for excellence in the industry, similar to the Oscars for film. In plain terms, the top TV industry award, handed out every year in the US.

How do you pronounce “Emmy”?

“Emmy” is pronounced EH-mee (/ˈɛmi/ in IPA).

How do you use “Emmy” in a sentence?

Here is “Emmy” used in a sentence: “The show won an Emmy for best drama series.”

What part of speech is “Emmy”?

“Emmy” is a noun.

Is “Emmy” a common word?

“Emmy” is an uncommon word in modern English.

What is the difference between an Emmy and an Oscar?

An Emmy recognizes excellence in television, while an Oscar recognizes excellence in film; both are prestigious annual American awards but honor achievements in different entertainment industries. A person can win either or both depending on the medium they work in.

Is "Emmy" always capitalized?

Yes, "Emmy" is capitalized because it refers to the specific, named television award, similar to how other proper award names like "Oscar" or "Grammy" are capitalized.

What does it mean to say someone "won an Emmy"?

Saying someone "won an Emmy" means they received this television industry award in recognition of excellence in their work, such as acting, writing, or directing. It signals a high level of professional achievement within television specifically.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial