Meaning & use
permanent marker
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A pen with ink that is difficult to remove and is used for writing on surfaces such as paper, plastic, or metal.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a permanent marker' or 'two permanent markers'.
Patterns
- use a permanent marker
- write with a permanent marker
- permanent marker pen
Please use a permanent marker to write your name on the box.
The teacher asked us to bring a permanent marker for the art project.
Word forms
| plural | permanent markers |
|---|
Common combinations
- black permanent marker
- She used a black permanent marker to label the folders.
- permanent marker ink
- The permanent marker ink stained the table.
- fine-tip permanent marker
- A fine-tip permanent marker is good for detailed work.
- permanent marker stain
- He tried to remove the permanent marker stain from his shirt.
Synonyms and how they differ
- indelible marker
- A more formal term for a permanent marker; often used in technical or industrial contexts.
Opposites
Word family
- marker noun
- A general word for a pen with a felt tip, which may or may not be permanent.
Commonly confused: permanent marker or dry-erase marker?
permanent marker vs dry-erase marker
A dry-erase marker can be wiped off whiteboards, while a permanent marker leaves marks that are hard to remove.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'permanent marker' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 1 is correct because permanent markers are often used to write on CDs. Option 0 is wrong because permanent marker ink does not wipe off easily. Option 2 is wrong because permanent marker ink is not easily erased. Option 3 is wrong because a permanent marker is a pen, not a pencil.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “permanent marker”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.