hallmark

American  

[hawl-mahrk] / ˈhɔlˌmɑrk /

noun

1. an official mark or stamp indicating a standard of purity, used in marking gold and silver articles assayed by the Goldsmiths' Company of London; plate mark.

2. any mark or special indication of genuineness, good quality, etc.

3. any distinguishing feature or characteristic.

   Accuracy is a hallmark of good scholarship.

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verb (used with object)

1. to stamp or imprint (something) with a hallmark.

hallmark British  

/ ˈhɔːlˌmɑːk /

noun

1. an official series of marks, instituted by statute in 1300, and subsequently modified, stamped by the Guild of Goldsmiths at one of its assay offices on gold, silver, or platinum (since 1975) articles to guarantee purity, date of manufacture, etc

2. a mark or sign of authenticity or excellence

3. an outstanding or distinguishing feature

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verb

1. (tr) to stamp with or as if with a hallmark

Other Word Forms

• hallmarker noun

Etymology

Origin of hallmark

1715–25; Goldsmiths' Hall, London, the seat of the Goldsmiths' Company + mark ¹

Example Sentences

The hallmark of our law is fiduciary judgment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

To these students, who perceive A.I.’s banal flatness as a hallmark of good style, my new essays are not acceptable.

From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026

Higher volatility is also a hallmark of triple witching, according to Mike Thompson, co-CIO at Little Harbor Advisors.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

Based on a cult manga, the second instalment of a dark trilogy about revenge tackled social inequalities -- a hallmark of Korean cinema.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

Its hallmark was the “Clovis point,” a four-inch spearhead with a slightly cut-in, concave tail; in silhouette, the points somewhat resemble those goldfish-shaped cocktail crackers.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• indication
• trademark