signalment

American

[sig-nl-muhnt] / ˈsɪg nl mənt /

noun

a detailed description, especially of distinctive features, of a person for identification, usually for police purposes.

signalment British

/ ˈsɪɡnəlmənt /

noun

a detailed description of a person, for identification or use in police records

"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 signalment

1770–80; < French signalement, derivative of signaler to signalize. See signal, -ment

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.

His passport had only been issued at the British Legation in Stockholm, and his description tallied exactly with the signalment issued by Scotland Yard in eight languages.

From Project Gutenberg

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