# signature

/ˈsɪɡnətʃɝ/ (US) · /sˈɪɡnɪtʃɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/signature
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. handwritten name

noun · CEFR B1

your name written in your own special way to sign a document.

For teachers: a person's name written by their own hand, used as a formal mark of identification or authorization.

- Please put your signature at the bottom of the contract.
- The bank teller carefully compared the signature on the cheque with the one they had on file to prevent fraud.

### 2. distinctive feature

noun · CEFR B2

a special style or quality that is typical of a particular person or thing.

For teachers: a distinctive characteristic or pattern that identifies a particular person, group, or thing.

- The chef's signature dish is a spicy seafood pasta.
- The director's signature style involves long, unbroken shots and a very muted colour palette.

### 3. musical notation

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

symbols at the start of a piece of music that show the key or the rhythm.

For teachers: signs placed on the stave to indicate the key (key signature) or the meter (time signature) of a composition.

- The piece is difficult to play because the time signature changes in every bar.
- The composer chose a complex key signature with five sharps, creating a bright and energetic tonal quality.

### 4. digital verification

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

electronic data added to a message to prove who sent it.

For teachers: a digital code or pattern used to authenticate the identity of a sender or the integrity of a file.

- The software won't install because it doesn't have a valid digital signature.
- The antivirus program scans for specific file signatures to identify and isolate malicious code before it can execute.

### 5. email footer

noun · CEFR B1

the text at the end of an email that has your contact details.

For teachers: a block of text automatically appended to the end of an electronic message, typically containing the sender's name and contact information.

- I forgot to update my phone number in my email signature.
- The company policy requires all employees to include a standard legal disclaimer in their professional email signatures.

### 6. characteristic

adjective · CEFR B2

describing something that is a person's most famous or typical feature.

For teachers: serving as a distinctive or identifying characteristic of a person or thing.

- She finished the performance with her signature move.
- The architect's signature curves are visible in almost every building he designed during that decade.

Usage: usually placed before the noun

## Examples

- Please put your signature at the bottom of the page.
- The bank teller asked for a second form of identification because the signature on the check did not match the one on file.
- The architect's signature style is evident in the building's sweeping glass curves and its seamless integration with the surrounding natural landscape.

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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.