signet

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableformal

   A small engraved stamp, usually worn on a ring, pressed into wax to mark a document as belonging to a person or authority.

   Grammar: Mostly in historical writing or in the phrase signet ring.

   Patterns

   • a signet ring
   • seal something with a signet

   The duke pressed his signet into the warm wax.

   A letter bearing the royal signet arrived at the castle.

   The signet carried a lion carved in tiny detail.

2. 2nouncountable

   A ring with a flat top engraved with initials or a family emblem, worn as jewelry.

   Grammar: Often shortened from signet ring: he wore a signet on his little finger.

   Patterns

   • wear a signet
   • a gold signet

   He wore a gold signet on his little finger.

   The family signet was passed down for four generations.

   She had her initials engraved on a silver signet.

Word forms

Common combinations

signet ring

The prince wore a signet ring with the family crest.

royal signet

The charter was stamped with the royal signet.

gold signet

He lost his gold signet while swimming.

seal with a signet

They sealed the letter with a signet.

engraved signet

An engraved signet was found in the ruins.

Synonyms and how they differ

seal

Seal is the general word for a mark or device that authenticates something, while signet is a small seal worn on a finger.

stamp

Stamp is an everyday tool for printing a mark and has no connection to jewelry or rank.

emblem

Emblem is the design itself, whereas the signet is the object that carries it.

seal ring

Seal ring is a plain descriptive phrase for a signet ring.

Word family

sign verb

to write your name on something

signature noun

your name written in your own way

signify verb

to mean or represent something

insignia noun

badges or symbols showing rank or membership

Commonly confused: signet or cygnet? signet or signal?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “signet”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words