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.

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punctuation mark British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of punctuation mark

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

The review refers to the "so-called 'rules-based international order'", putting the latter phrase in inverted commas: a kind of delegitimisation by punctuation mark.

From BBC • Jan. 9, 2026

He does put some value in the occasional rogue punctuation mark.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

How very dare you! — have in turn blazed across social media spaces populated by the kind of folks who will tell you, unprompted, that they have a favorite punctuation mark and what it is.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2025

By the time the sun reached center stage, a punctuation mark in the cloud-lined sky, I was miles into the woods.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline