question mark

American  

[kwes-chuhn mahrk] / ˈkwɛs tʃən ˌmɑrk /

noun

• question marks
  plural

1. Also called interrogation point.  Also called interrogation mark.  a punctuation mark indicating a question: usually, as in English, the mark (?) placed after a question.

2. something unanswered or unknown.

   His identity is still a question mark to most of us.

3. an anglewing butterfly, Polygonia interrogationis, having a silver marking that resembles a question mark on the underside of each hindwing.

---

question mark British  

noun

1. the punctuation mark ? , used at the end of questions and in other contexts where doubt or ignorance is implied

2. this mark used for any other purpose, as to draw attention to a possible mistake, as in a chess commentary

3. an element of doubt or uncertainty

---

question mark Cultural  

1. A punctuation mark (?) that follows a direct question: “Is Ralph really seven feet tall?”

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• question marks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of question mark

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

question mark

"There was never a tiny question mark about it. It was complete commitment and alignment that Morgan stays here, also from his side," said the former Crystal Palace head coach.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

The interrobang of the subtitle is a mashup of the question mark and the exclamation point that a New York ad man tried to popularize in the 1960s.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

The question mark is at left guard, with five candidates in the mix: Kayode Awosika, Branson Taylor, Jake Slaughter, Trey Pipkins III and Trevor Penning.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

“I’ve been walking around with a question mark over my head,” Hopkins, 88, said during a recent interview at the Hotel Bel-Air.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

“It’s a good step if she can breathe on her own. It shows her lungs are healing and her internal injuries are stabilizing. The question mark is still the brain contusions.”

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

Related Words

• conundrum
• puzzle