hallmark (ˈhɔːlˌmɑːk
)
Definitions
noun
- British an official series of marks, instituted by statute in 1300, and subsequently modified, stamped by the Guild of Goldsmiths at one of its assay offices on gold, silver, or platinum (since 1975) articles to guarantee purity, date of manufacture, etc
- a mark or sign of authenticity or excellence
- an outstanding or distinguishing feature
verb
- (tr) to stamp with or as if with a hallmark
Also (for senses 1, 4)
Word Origin
C18: named after Goldsmiths' Hall in London, where items were graded and stampedSynonyms
View thesaurus entryUsage examples
The hallmark of this guy is the total unlikelihood of his being what he is.
, Doll's Eyes (1994)One penny on National Insurance is hardly the makings of a socialist revolution; throwing cash at the NHS is not the hallmark of Old Labour.
Spiked (2002)WATER features have become the hallmark of the modern garden in the past two years.
Courier, Sunday Mail (2004)This had the hallmark of a man who could not lay his hands on reliable ammo available to top-class criminals.
Sun, News of the World (2001)By now, pepper was well on the way to being considered obligatory, a highly visible and highly esteemed hallmark of the nobility.
, SPICE: The History of a Temptation (2004)