Word
hallmark
Phoneticshall·mark, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhɑɫˌmɑɹk/
UK/hˈɔːlmɑːk/
Definitions
01a typical sign
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a quality or feature that is typical of something and makes it easy to recognize.
n. a distinguishing characteristic or feature that identifies the quality or origin of a person, work, or situation.
“The attention to detail in the hotel is a hallmark of their service.”
“The director's latest film displays the visual flair and complex narrative structure that have become the hallmarks of his cinematic style.”
02metal stamp
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical
n. an official mark stamped on gold, silver, or platinum to show how pure the metal is.
n. an official mark stamped on articles of gold, silver, or platinum by an assay office to certify their purity and origin.
“He checked the bottom of the silver spoon for a hallmark to see if it was real.”
“The antique dealer examined the hallmark under a magnifying glass to verify that the teapot was indeed crafted in London during the eighteenth century.”
03to stamp metal
C2 · Proficiency Technical
v. to put an official mark on a piece of gold or silver.
v. to stamp an object with an official mark of quality or purity; often used in the passive voice.
“The jeweler sent the rings to be hallmarked before they were sold.”
“Every piece of jewelry produced in this workshop is hallmarked to ensure the customer receives a guarantee of the metal's fineness.”
Real-World Examples
“This layered and multi-tiered map bears all the hallmarks of the team behind some of the most memorable stomping grounds in video games.” “But McWilliams said none of the photographs had the “hallmarks of culinary use”.” Etymology
1721. From hall + mark, from Goldsmiths' Hall in London, the site of the assay office, official stamp of purity in gold and silver articles. The general sense of “mark of quality” first recorded 1864. Use as a verb from 1773.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Idioms
01. Hallmark moment
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/hallmark