punctuation

noun punc·tu·a·tion \ ˌpəŋk-chə-ˈwā-shən \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Definition of punctuation

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

See punctuation defined for English-language learners

See punctuation defined for kids

Recent Examples of punctuation from the Web

Each line of text has a maximum of 18 spaces; all letters, characters, punctuation and spaces between words count as one space.

— david ibata, ajc, "Cherokee offers veterans’ commemorative bricks," 12 June 2018
And your idiosyncratic use of punctuation and expletives.

— Vogue, "Portrait of a Reporter as a Young Man: Tom Wolfe in Vogue, April 1966," 15 May 2018
The funniest things in an environment like Twitter tend to toy with that, imitating either casual speech or post-literate weirdos who don’t understand punctuation.

— nitsuh abebe, New York Times, "New Sentences: From a Tweet by Seamas O’Reilly," 16 May 2018
Allusions, dramatic asides, neologisms and flamboyant punctuation became the hallmarks of his style.

— thomas curwen, latimes.com, "Tom Wolfe, novelist and pioneer of New Journalism, dies at 88," 15 May 2018
His on-page manner depended on ridiculously long sentences, sometimes depending on the heavy use of … ellipses … and more ellipses … and complex punctuation like :::::.

— christopher bonanos, Daily Intelligencer, "Tom Wolfe, Pioneer of New York and New Journalism, Dies at 88," 15 May 2018
Allusions, dramatic asides, neologisms and flamboyant punctuation became the hallmarks of his style.

— thomas curwen, sacbee, "Tom Wolfe, novelist and pioneer of New Journalism, dies at 88 | The Sacramento Bee," 15 May 2018
Tom Wolfe, the renowned journalist and author who famously employed literary techniques, excitable punctuation, and razor-sharp wit in his nonfiction work, passed away Monday at age 88.

— jay bennett, Popular Mechanics, "You Should Read "The Right Stuff"," 15 May 2018
Perhaps the irony is that the punctuation itself is too much.

— anna orso, Philly.com, "Assault by exclamation point!! Why a revolt is brewing against overused punctuation," 27 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'punctuation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of punctuation

1593

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

PUNCTUATION Defined for English Language Learners

punctuation

noun

Definition of punctuation for English Language Learners

: the marks (such as periods and commas) in a piece of writing that make its meaning clear and that separate it into sentences, clauses, etc.

PUNCTUATION Defined for Kids

punctuation

noun punc·tu·a·tion \ ˌpəŋk-chə-ˈwā-shən \

Definition of punctuation for Students

1 : the act of adding punctuation marks to writing

2 : a system of using punctuation marks

Word Root of punctuation

The Latin word pungere, meaning “to prick” or “to pierce,” and its form punctus give us the roots pung and punct. Words from the Latin pungere have something to do with pricking or piercing. To puncture is to pierce with something pointed. A pungent smell is one that is so strong and sharp that it pierces the nose. Someone punctual acts at the exact point when the hands of the clock prick the right moment. Punctuation pierces a string of words to form separate sentences.