Emulation

//ˌɛm.jʊˈleɪ̯.ʃən// noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The endeavor or desire to equal or excel someone else in qualities or actions. countable, uncountable

    "a great figure who is worthy of respect and emulation"

  2. 2
    effort to equal or surpass another wordnet
  3. 3
    Jealous rivalry; envy; envious contention. countable, obsolete, uncountable

    "Scarce two gentlemen dwell together in the country […] , but there is emulation betwixt them and their servants, some quarrel or some grudge betwixt their wives or children […]"

  4. 4
    (computer science) technique of one machine obtaining the same results as another wordnet
  5. 5
    Execution of a program or other software designed for a different system, by simulating parts of the other system. countable, uncountable
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    ambition to equal or excel wordnet

Example

More examples

"Tales of gentleness, of honor, of justice, of courage, of fortitude in suffering, of intrepidity in danger, of dauntless resolution, of iron will, inspire children to an emulation of those virtues."

Etymology

From Middle French émulation, from Latin aemulātiō.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.