question mark

American  

[kwes-chuhn mahrk] / ˈkwɛs tʃən ˌmɑrk /

noun

1. Also called interrogation point.  Also called interrogation mark.  a punctuation mark indicating a question: usually, as in English, the mark (?) placed after a question.

2. something unanswered or unknown.

   His identity is still a question mark to most of us.

3. an anglewing butterfly, Polygonia interrogationis, having a silver marking that resembles a question mark on the underside of each hindwing.

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question mark British  

noun

1. the punctuation mark ? , used at the end of questions and in other contexts where doubt or ignorance is implied

2. this mark used for any other purpose, as to draw attention to a possible mistake, as in a chess commentary

3. an element of doubt or uncertainty

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question mark Cultural  

1. A punctuation mark (?) that follows a direct question: “Is Ralph really seven feet tall?”

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Etymology

Origin of question mark

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

She’s a big question mark in the field.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

While Venezuela is still a question mark, Chevron has been in the region for years, which could give it an advantage once the nation begins to open up more broadly to foreign investment.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

“The big question mark for me is what’s going to happen in Asia,” she says, adding that what would really set the stocks alight would be a recovery in Chinese travel numbers.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

Make it when the party’s a question mark but the food doesn’t have to be..

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

When his eyes fell on her own second-grade school picture with two missing front teeth poked into the corner of Sitti’s picture frame, he pointed and made a question mark with his hand.

From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye

Related Words

• conundrum
• puzzle