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• John Hancock
  John Hancock

  noun

  1737–93, American statesman: first signer of the Declaration of Independence.
• Hancock, John
  Hancock, John

  A political leader of the eighteenth century. He was president of the Continental Congress when the Declaration of Independence was signed, and was the first to sign it, which he did with a large, flamboyant signature.

John Hancock

American  

[jon han-kok] / ˈdʒɒn ˈhæn kɒk /

noun

1. 1737–93, American statesman: first signer of the Declaration of Independence.

2. Informal. a person's signature.

   Put your John Hancock on this check.

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John Hancock British  

noun

1. Also called: John Henry. informal a person's signature

   put your John Hancock on this form

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John Hancock ¹ Cultural  

1. A signature: “Please help us out and put your John Hancock on our petition.” The expression refers to the bold signature that John Hancock wrote on the Declaration of Independence.

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Hancock, John ² Cultural  

1. A political leader of the eighteenth century. He was president of the Continental Congress when the Declaration of Independence was signed, and was the first to sign it, which he did with a large, flamboyant signature.

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John Hancock Idioms  

1. Also, John Henry. One's signature, as in Just put your John Hancock on the dotted line. This expression alludes to John Hancock's prominent signature on the Declaration of Independence. The variant simply substitutes a common name for “Hancock.” [Mid-1800s]

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Discover More

A “John Hancock” is a signature.

Etymology

Origin of John Hancock

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50, so called from the boldness and legibility of John Hancock's signature

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

John Hancock Hancock, John

“I think it’s really about inflation, and Friday is going to be the big tell on that front,” said Emily Roland, co-chief investment strategist at Manulife John Hancock Investment Management.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

Bond expert Mike Lorizio, head of U.S. rates and mortgage trading at investment giant John Hancock, says that, on balance, the news is positive for long-term bonds.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

John Hancock, the president of the Continental Congress, likely sent a batch of the broadsides to Washington.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026

Documents from such historical figures as John Hancock are shown alongside those from ordinary individuals to show the ways this pivotal period was experienced by all strata of society.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 22, 2026

He’d go first to John Hancock From where he sat he could see that a great ship was slowly warping in—no coaster this, no mere sugar boat from the Sugar Isles.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes

He was on the all-star charity single “We Are the World” in 1985, and he also performed or recorded with Donna Summer, Herbie Hancock, John Mellencamp, Paul McCartney and many others.

From New York Times ● May 31, 2015

Ed Sheeran, Herbie Hancock, John Mayer, and Questlove The British singer-songwriter is set to perform twice during the telecast, once with ELO, and the other time with a collection of top-notch musicians.

From Forbes ● Feb. 8, 2015

He'll perform a duet with Jeff Lynne and ELO before taking to the stage for a jam session with Herbie Hancock, John Mayer and Questlove later in the show.

From BBC ● Feb. 7, 2015

This delegation, as we know, included John Hancock, John Adams and Samuel Adams himself.

From Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great - Volume 03 Little Journeys to the Homes of American Statesmen by Elbert Hubbard

Hancock, John, at Lexington, 111; letters of, 120, 122; marries Miss Quincy, 123; occupies home on Beacon Street, 125; dies, 128.

From The Romance of Old New England Rooftrees by Mary Caroline Crawford

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