punctuation mark

American  

noun

1. any of a group of conventional marks or characters used in punctuation, as the period, comma, semicolon, question mark, or dash.

---

punctuation mark British  

noun

1. any of the signs used in punctuation, such as a comma or question mark

---

Etymology

Origin of punctuation mark

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

“It feels like a punctuation mark that feels appropriate,” Sarah Jessica Parker tells The Times the day before receiving the Golden Globes’ Carol Burnett Award.

From Los Angeles Times

Think of it as the salad’s punctuation mark.

From Salon

Cinnamon sugar on top adds crunch, a tactile punctuation mark that makes every bite feel deliberate.

From Salon

Because more than any other punctuation mark, the em dash is deeply human.

From The Wall Street Journal

His dog, Jesus, a striking black-and-white pit bull, followed him everywhere, tail wagging like a punctuation mark.

From Los Angeles Times