signature

American  

[sig-nuh-cher, -choor] / ˈsɪg nə tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər /

noun

• signatures
  plural

1. a person's name, or a mark representing it, as signed personally or by deputy, as in subscribing a letter or other document.

2. the act of signing a document.

3. Music. a sign or set of signs at the beginning of a staff to indicate the key or the time of a piece.

4. Radio. a song, musical arrangement, sound effect, etc., used as a theme identifying a program.

5. any unique, distinguishing aspect, feature, or mark.

6. Medicine/Medical. that part of a written prescription that specifies directions for use.

7. Biology, Medicine/Medical. a distinctive characteristic or set of characteristics by which a biological structure or medical condition is recognized.

8. Also called section.  Bookbinding. a printed sheet folded to page size for binding together, with other such sheets, to form a book, magazine, etc.

9. Printing.

   1. a letter or other symbol generally placed by the printer at the foot of the first page of every sheet to guide the binder in folding the sheets and in gathering them in sequence.

   2. a sheet so marked.

10. Chemistry, Physics. a characteristic trace or sign that indicates the presence of a substance or the occurrence of a physical process or event.

    The satellite recorded a spectrum that is the signature of a nuclear explosion.

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adjective

1. serving to identify or distinguish a person, group, etc..

   a signature tune.

signature British  

/ ˈsɪɡnɪtʃə /

noun

1. the name of a person or a mark or sign representing his name, marked by himself or by an authorized deputy

2. the act of signing one's name

3. 1. a distinctive mark, characteristic, etc, that identifies a person or thing

   2. ( as modifier )

      a signature fragrance

4. music See key signature time signature

5. Abbreviation: Sig.   S.  the part of a medical prescription that instructs a patient how frequently and in what amounts he should take a drug or agent

6. printing

   1. a sheet of paper printed with several pages that upon folding will become a section or sections of a book

   2. such a sheet so folded

   3. a mark, esp a letter, printed on the first page of a signature

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• signatureless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• signatures
  plural

Etymology

Origin of signature

1525–35; < Medieval Latin signātūra a signing, equivalent to Latin signāt ( us ) past participle of signāre to mark ( see sign, -ate ¹) + -ūra -ure

Explanation

When you sign your name in your own handwriting, that is your signature. Things you can put your signature on include checks, permission slips, letters, stays of execution, and declarations of independence. Signature isn't just about signing your name on the dotted line. A characteristic mark, tune, or style is also called a signature. Perhaps you have a favorite outfit or style that you consider your signature look. "I Did It My Way" was a signature tune of Frank Sinatra. In music, the signature indicates what key the song is set in by showing the sharps and flats.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

signature signatures

The treatment works by taking a sample of the patient's tumor and identifying its unique mutational signature, or "fingerprint," then using mRNA technology to fight it.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

Ahead of the band’s show Monday night at the Hollywood Bowl, Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson reveals how their signature songs came to be.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

The three leaders fought their signature campaigns under vastly different conditions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

"His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top. The band of which he was part for six decades is going to keep on keeping on as he had wished," he said.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

Or as the signature on a dust-covered painting in the British Museum, to give another.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

A petition citing Cofnas’s “abhorrent research” and calling for his dismissal gained more than 1,200 signatures.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

The letter from DSA members was not endorsed by a specific chapter of the group, but did include signatures of top members of the organization, according to the New York Times.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

Observations from Keck Observatory, Magellan Observatory, and the Very Large Telescope showed no recognizable chemical signatures during the first month after the explosion.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026

After signatures close, the document will be introduced in the House of Commons by lone Green Party lawmaker Elizabeth May.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

Before taking the signatures, the personal delegate of the president of the republic tried to read the act of surrender aloud, but Colonel Aureliano Buendía was against it.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Related Words

• autograph
• identification
• ink
• name
• seal
• stamp
• trademark