# hallmark

/ˈhɑɫˌmɑɹk/ (US) · /hˈɔːlmɑːk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hallmark
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 2. metal purity stamp

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

an official mark stamped on gold, silver, or platinum to show its quality.

For teachers: an official mark stamped on articles of gold, silver, or platinum by an assay office to certify their purity.

- He checked the bottom of the silver spoon for a hallmark.
- The antique dealer examined the hallmark on the gold casing to verify that the watch was indeed an authentic eighteenth-century piece.

### 3. to stamp metal

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to put an official mark on a piece of precious metal.

For teachers: to stamp an object with a hallmark to certify its standard of purity.

- The jeweler sent the rings to be hallmarked before selling them.
- Current regulations require all silver items over a certain weight to be hallmarked by one of the four remaining assay offices.

Usage: Usually used in the passive voice when referring to the legal requirement for precious metals.

## Examples

- Attention to detail is the hallmark of her work.
- The director's hallmark is the use of long, unbroken shots that create a sense of realism.
- While the plot was somewhat predictable, the sharp, witty dialogue remained the hallmark of the author's sophisticated literary style.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.