punctuation mark

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

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of punctuation mark¹

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

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

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And a bit of lemon zest—the punctuation mark that makes everything else sing.

Read more on Salon

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.

Read more on Salon

“This was the best game we’ve played so far from start to finish, but we have one more. Let’s put a punctuation mark on the season!”

Read more on Los Angeles Times