Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

marque

1 American  
[mahrk] / mɑrk /

noun

  1. letter of marque.

  2. Obsolete. seizure by way of reprisal or retaliation.

marque 2 American  
[mahrk] / mɑrk /

noun

  1. a product model or type, as of a luxury or racing car.

marque British  
/ mɑːk /

noun

  1. a brand of product, esp of a car

  2. an emblem or nameplate used to identify a product, esp a car

  3. See letter of marque

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of marque1

1375–1425; late Middle English < Middle French < Provençal marca seizure by warrant (originally token) < Germanic; see mark 1

Origin of marque2

1905–10; < French: literally, mark, sign, noun derivative of marquer to mark, probably dial. derivative of Old French merc, merche boundary, boundary marker < Old Norse merki (from same Germanic base as march 2, mark 1, marque 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"It is a significant vote of confidence in the Rolls-Royce marque, securing our future in the UK," he added.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2025

Volkswagen Group’s most profitable marque has also promoted a 22-foot boat made by Seven Seas Yachts called the Hermes Speedster, which was made to evoke the Porsche 356 vintage car.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 29, 2023

Mr. Biden will then travel to Saudi Arabia for a marque meeting in Jeddah with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other regional Arab leaders Friday evening.

From Washington Times • Jul. 14, 2022

The company was spun out of Volvo in 2016 as its performance subbrand but has since recast itself as an EV-only marque.

From The Verge • Jun. 24, 2022

“The Astrea mounts nineteen guns, Captain Prince. If any of your crew has ever shipped on a privateer or a letter of marque ship they—ah—might be useful.”

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.