an official mark or stamp indicating a standard of purity, used in marking gold and silver articles assayed by the Goldsmiths' Company of London; plate mark.
any mark or special indication of genuineness, good quality, etc.
any distinguishing feature or characteristic: Accuracy is a hallmark of good scholarship.
verb (used with object)
to stamp or imprint (something) with a hallmark.
Origin of hallmark
1715–25; Goldsmiths' Hall, London, the seat of the Goldsmiths' Company + mark1
OTHER WORDS FROM hallmark
hallmarker,noun
Words nearby hallmark
halliard, Hallie, halling, Hallion's test, Hall-Jones, hallmark, hallo, Hall of Fame, Hall of Famer, hall of residence, halloo
The concept of evidence-based medicine, for so long a hallmark of trustworthiness, has been deeply corrupted by drug and device manufacturers whose deep pockets can sway the results and the reporting.
My cancer might be back—and I wonder if unnecessary radiation caused it in the first place|jakemeth|September 22, 2020|Fortune
A sleek design is a hallmark of Moleskine, and makes this a great notebook for well beyond the classroom.
Notable notebooks for writing and drawing|PopSci Commerce Team|September 17, 2020|Popular Science
Diversity was also a hallmark of “Vida,” which ran for three seasons on STARZ.
FROM THE VAULTS: The opposite of binge-watching|Brian T. Carney|September 4, 2020|Washington Blade
In fact, the lack of reliable, quickly updating data has been a hallmark of this crisis, whether it be public health or economic data.
How The Experts Are Measuring The Economic Recovery|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|July 15, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Just as scientists are beginning to understand how this microbiome supports human health, hallmarks of modern life such as antibiotics and processed foods may be pushing many of our microbial residents toward extinction.
Scientists want to build a Noah’s Ark for the human microbiome|Carolyn Beans|June 11, 2020|Science News
The idea that January 1st initiates a period of new beginning is not a flash of Hallmark brilliance.
New Year’s Eve, Babylon Style|Candida Moss|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They apparently took that as a sign of suspicious activity, even though that can be a hallmark of people on the autism spectrum.
Worse Than Eric Garner: Cops Who Got Away With Killing Autistic Men and Little Girls|Emily Shire|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Split-ticket voting in general elections, the hallmark of so-called independents, is relatively rare.
Reality Check: There Are No Swing Voters|Goldie Taylor|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is the hallmark of a successful multiplatform communication strategy.
ISIS Is Winning the Online Jihad Against the West|Ali Fisher, Nico Prucha|October 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And workable solutions will require honesty—not currently a hallmark of The Gathering.
The $1-Billion-a-Year Right-Wing Conspiracy You Haven’t Heard Of|Jay Michaelson|September 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is a delightful book to leave about, with its vellum binding, dainty ribbons, and the hallmark of a great publisher's name.
The Roadmender|Michael Fairless
The hallmark of Zhivkov's leadership has been his intense loyalty to the leaders of the Soviet Union.
Area Handbook for Bulgaria|Eugene K. Keefe, Violeta D. Baluyut, William Giloane, Anne K. Long, James M. Moore, and Neda A. Walpole
We bore the hallmark of fifty years of neutral aloofness, of fifty years of indifference to the business of national defense.
High Adventure|James Norman Hall
Within, on either side, was a partition, and there was a silver clasp on which the hallmark was English.
The Powers and Maxine|Charles Norris Williamson
Only the identity of the maker is revealed by the hallmark on American silver.
Colonial Homes and Their Furnishings|Mary H. Northend
British Dictionary definitions for hallmark
hallmark
/ (ˈhɔːlˌmɑːk) /
noun
Britishan official series of marks, instituted by statute in 1300, and subsequently modified, stamped by the Guild of Goldsmiths at one of its assay offices on gold, silver, or platinum (since 1975) articles to guarantee purity, date of manufacture, etc
a mark or sign of authenticity or excellence
an outstanding or distinguishing feature
verb
(tr)to stamp with or as if with a hallmark
Also (for senses 1, 4): platemark
Word Origin for hallmark
C18: named after Goldsmiths' Hall in London, where items were graded and stamped