punctuation

noun

punc·​tu·​a·​tion ˌpəŋk-chə-ˈwā-shən 

1

: the act of punctuating : the state of being punctuated

2

: the act or practice of inserting standardized marks or signs in written matter to clarify the meaning and separate structural units

also : a system of punctuation

3

: something that contrasts or accentuates

Examples of punctuation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pay special attention to capitalization, enjambment, line breaks, and punctuation. —PC Magazine, 15 July 2025

Smoking was like a type of punctuation—life’s em dash—forcing me to slow down, and putting everything else in relief. —Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 11 June 2025

If our skeptic needs a reason to care about emoji, this is it: emoji are valuable partners for our writing, adding literal and metaphorical color to staid old letters and numbers and punctuation and occasionally, in creative and delightful ways, replacing them entirely. —Longreads, 1 July 2025

Percussion is provided by Loueke’s tongue clucking and vocal punctuations. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing punctuation

• punctuation mark

Rhymes for punctuation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

punctuation

noun

punc·​tu·​a·​tion ˌpəŋ(k)-chə-ˈwā-shən 

: the act, practice, or system of inserting punctuation marks in written matter to make the meaning clear and separate parts (as clauses or sentences)