hallmark

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)

Did you know?

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

Recent Examples on the Web

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

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

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hallmark

• ballpark
• benchmark
• birthmark
• daymark
• earmark
• embark
• landmark
• monarch
• postmark
• remark
• skylark
• tetrarch

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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

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