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

Reading poetry out loud also requires us to pause for punctuation or line breaks, increasing our parasympathetic tone and dampening our hyperactive sympathetic nervous system. —K.j.s. “sunny” Anand, Time, 15 Oct. 2025

There are separate dials for numbers, navigation, functions and punctuation. —New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2025

These were staples of her upbringing and her reading, the punctuation of her days as a practicing Christian. —Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025

Also, the sound of a flushing toilet had been heard in films, usually as comic punctuation. —Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Sep. 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)