Meaning & use

hallmark

noun·Academic

A distinctive feature or quality that is typical of a particular person, place, or thing.

See it in a sentence

Careful attention to detail is the hallmark of her design work.

Generous customer service has long been a hallmark of the family-owned store.

A note on using this word

Hallmark originally referred to an official stamp certifying the purity of gold or silver, a sense still used in jewelry and metalwork.

Words with a similar meaning

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Another way to use it

2. noun

An official mark stamped on items of gold, silver, or platinum to certify their standard of purity.

The jeweler examined the ring's hallmark to confirm it was genuine silver.

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