watermark

1 of 2

noun

wa·​ter·​mark ˈwȯ-tər-ˌmärk 

ˈwä-

1

: a mark indicating the height to which water has risen

2

: a marking in paper resulting from differences in thickness usually produced by pressure of a projecting design in the mold or on a processing roll and visible when the paper is held up to the light

also : the design of or the metal pattern producing the marking

watermark

2 of 2

verb

watermarked; watermarking; watermarks

transitive verb

1

: to mark (paper) with a watermark

2

: to impress (a given design) as a watermark

Examples of watermark in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Each photo of the yacht also has a watermark that is unique to the broker, so if the image is leaked the owners can trace it back to the broker. —Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 2 July 2025

This shrinks the blast radius if a password leaks, while watermarks and logs give us forensic proof should proprietary code ever surface elsewhere. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

Verb

Protecting your art is still up to you; watermark your work, adjust privacy settings, and add copyright notices to help prevent misuse. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 July 2025

Now, the company is expanding its partnerships in an effort to watermark more content. —Brian Cheung, NBC news, 20 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for watermark

• disembark
• matriarch
• meadowlark
• patriarch
• arc
• ark
• bark
• barque
• dark
• hark
• lark
• marc

Kids Definition

watermark

1 of 2 noun

wa·​ter·​mark ˈwȯt-ər-ˌmärk 

ˈwät-

1

: a mark that shows the height to which water has risen

2

: a mark (as the maker's name or trademark) made in paper during manufacture and visible when the paper is held up to the light

watermark

2 of 2 verb

: to mark with a watermark