# marking

/ˈmɑɹkɪŋ/ (US) · /mˈɑːkɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/marking
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. grading student work

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

the work a teacher does to check and correct students' assignments or exams.

For teachers: the process of evaluating and correcting students' written work or examinations. Uncountable in the sense of the activity; countable when referring to specific marks made.

- The teacher spent the whole weekend doing the marking for our history essays.
- The department head implemented a new double-blind marking system to ensure that final grades remained objective and fair across all seminar groups.

Usage: Commonly used as an uncountable noun for the activity of grading.

### 2. animal patterns

noun · CEFR B2

the natural patterns, spots, or stripes on an animal's fur, feathers, or skin.

For teachers: the characteristic patterns of colour or texture on an animal, bird, or insect. Usually plural when referring to the overall appearance.

- The bird has distinctive white markings around its eyes that make it easy to identify.
- The leopard's unique markings provide essential camouflage, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the dappled light of the forest floor.

Usage: Often used in the plural form 'markings'.

### 3. identifying symbols

noun · CEFR B2

signs, labels, or symbols on an object that show what it is or who it belongs to.

For teachers: a set of symbols, letters, or patterns used to identify the origin, ownership, or type of an object.

- The old crate had military markings on the side, but the date was faded.
- The aircraft bore no visible markings, making it impossible for the ground crew to determine its country of origin or its intended destination.

## Examples

- The teacher spent the whole weekend doing marking.
- The university has a strict policy that all marking must be completed within three weeks of the exam date.
- Standardised marking criteria ensure that every student is evaluated against the same academic benchmarks, reducing the risk of subjective bias during the final assessment phase.

---

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.