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.

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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

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question mark Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• question marks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of question mark

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

“So you don’t really know for certain how many vessels and what volume they’re carrying. There’s a question mark there.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

But there was a question mark hovering over his new material, which has not been met with the sort of universal acclaim the 33-year-old has come to expect.

From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026

But to many on Wall Street, the company’s AI strategy has been a big question mark hanging over the stock.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 6, 2026

One of his projects, focused on adaptation to climate change, has already been axed, and he cannot hire any more PhD students, with a giant question mark over his funding.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

Explained the system of labelling—a T for the males, a circle for the females and for those who were destined to become ffeemartins a question mark, black on a white ground.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

Related Words

• conundrum
• puzzle