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, 19 June 2025

The app doesn’t use special commands and recognizes human speech before handling punctuation and formatting. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025

Entries cover guidance on punctuation and semantics, but also offer instruction around The Times’s specific practices, such as the paper’s stance on courtesy titles and how numbers should be rendered in headlines. —Sara Aridi, New York Times, 2 May 2025

Scripts for individual scenes often weren’t completed until hours before they were filmed — with actors still expected to be precise with David’s distinct language, and even punctuation, despite the lack of prep time. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 26 May 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)