John Hancock

noun

John Han·cock ˈjän-ˈhan-ˌkäk

Synonyms of John Hancock next

next

: an autograph signature

Examples of John Hancock in a Sentence

let me just scribble my John Hancock on the bottom of the form

Word History

Etymology

John Hancock; from the prominence of his signature on the Declaration of Independence

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of John Hancock was in 1885

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“John Hancock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/John%20Hancock. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

griot

Listen to the pronunciation of griot

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Canceled' or 'cancelled'?

'Gray' vs. 'Grey': What is the difference?

A Guide to Using Semicolons

Popular in Wordplay

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)