hallmark

1 of 2

noun

hall·​mark ˈhȯl-ˌmärk How to pronounce hallmark (audio)
1
a
: an official mark stamped on gold and silver articles in England to attest their purity
b
: a mark or device placed or stamped on an article of trade to indicate origin, purity, or genuineness
a hallmark from the Ming dynasty
2
: a distinguishing characteristic, trait, or feature
the dramatic flourishes which are the hallmark of the trial lawyerMarion K. Sanders

hallmark

2 of 2

verb

hallmarked; hallmarking; hallmarks

transitive verb

: to stamp with a mark that indicates origin, purity, or genuineness : to stamp with a hallmark (see hallmark entry 1)

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The Golden History of Hallmark

In the year 1300, King Edward I of England (His Excellency also known most excellently as "Edward Longshanks") established a standard for gold and silver to ensure quality and prevent fraud. Thereafter precious metals had to be tested and approved by master craftsmen (and given the mark of a leopard's head) before being sold. Over the ensuing centuries, many London artisans brought their finished metal goods to Goldsmiths' Hall, where the Goldsmiths' Company had a charter to grant their unique mark of approval to wares that met standards of purity. (The process is much the same today.) At first, people used hallmark to name that mark of excellence from Goldsmiths' Hall, but over the years the word came to refer to any mark guaranteeing purity or genuineness, and eventually to any distinguishing characteristic, trait, or feature.

Examples of hallmark in a Sentence

Noun He had all the hallmarks of a great baseball player. Humor is one of the hallmarks of her style. The murder bore all the hallmarks of a serial killer's work.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The event, which has become one of the hallmarks of winter celebrations in West Africa, attracted roughly 40,000 attendees across its two days, according to its founder. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024 Freedom of expression and freedom of speech are the hallmarks of American politics and American social life. Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 Mainstream media and medical providers increasingly dismiss vaccine refusal as a hallmark of American fringe ideology, far-right radicalization or anti-intellectualism. Johanna Richlin, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2024 The result of these collective forces is a watch that retains the hallmarks of the Royal Oak that have contributed to its enduring legacy with a fresh, highly contemporary design language. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 In addition to hallmarks like Pretty Woman (1990) and Juno (2007), the streamer offers fresh, edgier options like last year’s brilliant Sanctuary and the charmingly underrated Rye Lane. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024 While the incident bore the hallmarks of a deliberate action, the lack of evidence frustrates him. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024 That kind of relaxation is another hallmark of the genre. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2024 Through its open design sans a conventional dial, the mechanisms of the gongs and hammers are now visible from the face side, which allows the wearer to continually experience and admire one of the hallmarks that sets Patek Philippe apart from the rest. Rebecca Suhrawardi, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024
Verb
The demo, which Alexander shared over email, features his vocals and a few alternate lyrics, with less of the voluptuous instrumental that hallmarks Ellis-Bextor’s version but the same creative exuberance that juiced his best work as a frontman and songwriter. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 26 Jan. 2024 The Spurs’ practice gym was quiet Monday, save for the dull drone of conversation and the occasional click of a camera shutter that hallmark an NBA media day. Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Sep. 2021 In normal circumstances, the teenage experience is hallmarked by big emotions. Jennifer Folsom, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2020 Holidays, inasmuch as they are illustrated by their ornaments and decorations, are also hallmarked by their customary foods, which spangle around festive table centerpieces as the true spectacle of the occasions. Myles Poydras, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2020 Byrne recalled her brother’s sense of humor, hallmarked an uncanny ability to impersonate anyone. Michael Brice-Saddler, Washington Post, 1 Sep. 2019 Despite a season hallmarked by miscommunication between the player’s camp and the Spurs, Leonard and Popovich maintained a solid — albeit often long-distance — relationship. Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Apr. 2018 The inside linebacker blitzes that have long hallmarked Pittsburgh’s scheme also remain. Andy Benoit, SI.com, 20 Sep. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hallmark.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Goldsmiths' Hall, London, England, where gold and silver articles were assayed and stamped

First Known Use

Noun

1721, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1773, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hallmark was in 1721

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Dictionary Entries Near hallmark

Cite this Entry

“Hallmark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hallmark. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hallmark

noun
hall·​mark
ˈhȯl-ˌmärk
1
: an official mark stamped on gold and silver articles in England to certify their purity
2
: a distinguishing characteristic or feature
bears the hallmarks of genius
hallmark verb
Etymology

Noun

named for Goldsmith's Hall in London, England, where gold and silver articles formerly were tested for purity and stamped

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