Synonyms

punctuation mark

American

noun

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

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

"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 punctuation mark

First recorded in 1855–60

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.

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

It’s not as though the em dash is the first punctuation mark to get lost in intergenerational translation.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2025

No one saw the pity of its position, hanging there in eternal meaninglessness, silently signalling to those with eyes to see, “I’m a legitimate punctuation mark, get me out of here.”

From "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Author

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