watermark

American  

[waw-ter-mahrk, wot-er-] / ˈwɔ tərˌmɑrk, ˈwɒt ər- /

noun

1. a mark indicating the height to which water rises or has risen, as in a river or inlet.

2. water line.

3. a figure or design impressed in some paper during manufacture, visible when the paper is held to the light.

4. Computers. Also digital watermark a small piece of code or identifiable data sequence embedded into a digital file, usually an image or an audio or video file, as a traceable marker of origin or ownership.

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verb (used with object)

1. to mark (paper or a digital file) with a watermark.

2. to impress (a design, pattern, etc.), as a watermark.

3. Computers. to place (a digital identifier) into a file.

watermark British  

/ ˈwɔːtəˌmɑːk /

noun

1. a distinguishing mark impressed on paper during manufacture, visible when the paper is held up to the light

2. another word for water line water line

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verb

1. to mark (paper) with a watermark

Other Word Forms

• unwatermarked adjective

Etymology

Origin of watermark

First recorded in 1625–35; water + mark ¹

Example Sentences

I believe that AI and social media platforms should also more aggressively adopt standards to apply watermarks to AI-generated content and recognize and label such content.

From Salon

Then, days later, law enforcement released the video with a Nest watermark.

From The Wall Street Journal

As Simon observed years later, the V-Discs “mark the high watermark of the big band years.”

From The Wall Street Journal

That watermark has come faster than many anticipated.

From Barron's

In addition, clear or audible labels, like a watermark, are required for AI-generated content that could be mistaken for real life.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• apex
• apogee
• upper limit