hallmark
pronunciation
How to pronounce hallmark in British English:
UK [ˈhɔːlmɑːk]
How to pronounce hallmark in American English:
US [ˈhɔːlmɑːrk]
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- Noun:
- a distinctive characteristic or attribute
- a mark on an article of trade to indicate its origin and authenticity
Word Origin
- hallmark
- hallmark: [18] The hallmark on a piece of gold, silver or platinum, which allows it to be legally sold, is so called simply because it was originally applied in Goldsmiths’ Hall, the headquarters of the Goldsmiths’ Company (a City livery company), where the London assay office was situated. The building is in Foster Lane, to the northeast of St Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London.
- hallmark (n.)
- 1721, official stamp of purity in gold and silver articles, from Goldsmiths' Hall in London, site of the assay office; see hall + mark (n.1). General sense of "mark of quality" first recorded 1864. As a verb from 1773.
Example
- 1. But urbanisation is a hallmark of a developing economy .
- 2. Microcytic rbc are the hallmark of iron-deficiency anemia .
- 3. Hardly the hallmark of a dawning bull market .
- 4. Selfless spending becomes a hallmark of moral virtue .
- 5. Dying creatively is the hallmark of vivisystems .