Marion K. Sanders
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The Golden History of Hallmark
Centuries ago, King Edward I of England decreed that gold and silver had to be tested and approved by master craftsmen before being sold. Later, London artisans were required to bring finished metal goods to Goldsmith's Hall to be checked, and if those items met the quality standards of the craft-masters there, they would be marked with a special stamp of approval. (The process is much the same today.) At first, people used hallmark to name that mark of excellence from Goldsmith's Hall, but over the years the word came to refer to any mark guaranteeing purity or genuineness, and eventually to name any sign of outstanding talent, creativity, or excellence.
Synonyms
Examples of hallmark in a Sentence
Kristi Pahr, Parents, 14 Sep. 2023
Read full article In less time than a movie double-feature, enough water fell to wash out roads and train tracks, deluge homes and businesses in several feet of water, and force evacuations— the consequences of flash flooding that experts say is a hallmark of climate change.
—Sabrina Shankman, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2023
Collaboration is still a hallmark of Pininfarina, and much of the Battista’s rarefied foundation is shared by the Nevera.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2023
And in a league defined by quarterback, disrupting them is a hallmark of success.
—cleveland, 9 Sep. 2023
Frausto asked another hairstylist who was busy at work braiding at the start of our backstage interview, keeping with the deconstruction and subtle chaos that are hallmarks of Collina Strada’s runway beauty looks.
—Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2023
The planned rail grinding should reduce the screeching sound or whirr that a news release notes as a hallmark of downtown.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 8 Sep. 2023
Filled with what would become hallmarks of both Ghibli and Miyazaki's output—heroic young women, the joy of flight, and the delicate state of the natural world—Nausicaä set the standard for everything that followed.
—Matt Kamen, WIRED, 7 Sep. 2023
One of the hallmarks of PCOS is typically insulin resistance.
—Casey Seiden, Ms, Rdn, Cdn, Health, 22 Aug. 2023
Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Sep. 2021
This process is what leads to hallmark rheumatoid arthritis symptoms like painful, swollen joints, joint stiffness, fatigue, fever, and more.
—Beth Krietsch, SELF, 26 Aug. 2020
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
Opponents said the bill would have eroded Hong Kong’s hallmark judicial independence and exposed its residents to politicized cases.
—Washington Post, 11 Aug. 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
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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
Dictionary Entries Near hallmark
Cite this Entry
“Hallmark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hallmark. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
hallmark
nounNoun
named for Goldsmith's Hall in London, England, where gold and silver articles formerly were tested for purity and stamped
More from Merriam-Webster on hallmark
Nglish: Translation of hallmark for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of hallmark for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hallmark
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