hallmark
Signature identifying trait
A hallmark is a distinguishing feature or characteristic that identifies something as genuine or of high quality: Attention to detail is the hallmark of her work.
The term comes from the official marks stamped on gold and silver in Britain to certify purity, and this original sense persists in jewelry and metalwork.
More broadly, hallmark describes any defining trait: The hallmark of a good teacher is patience.
As a verb, to hallmark is to stamp with such a mark or to characterize distinctively. (Capitalized Hallmark is the greeting card company.)
Registered commercial identifier
- signatureHandwritten name for verification
- telltaleRevealing indicator
- indicatorSign revealing status
- markerSomething that signals location
characteristic · distinguishing · defining · unmistakable · quintessential · archetypal · identifying · recognizable
Outstanding quality or merit
- standardLevel of quality accepted
- benchmarkStandard for comparison
- gold standardMeasure of ultimate quality
- seal of approvalOfficial sanction symbol
assurance · guarantee · craftsmanship · premium · superior · first-rate · top-tier · prestige
Strike with fist
- dieStop being alive
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- impressAffect with admiration
- metalHard conductive solid
gold · silver · platinum · palladium · jewelry · cutlery · silverware · plate
Truly what it claims
- authenticVerified as original
- certifiedOfficially declared valid
- verificationProving something accurate
- assayCompositional evaluation procedure
purity · provenance · sterling · fineness · goldsmith · silversmith · karat · stamped
trademark
Registered commercial identifier
marker · characteristic · distinguishing · defining · unmistakable · quintessential · archetypal · identifying · recognizable · stamp
excellence
Outstanding quality or merit
- standardLevel of quality accepted
- benchmarkStandard for comparison
- gold standardMeasure of ultimate quality
seal of approval · assurance · guarantee · craftsmanship · premium · superior · first-rate · top-tier · prestige · refinement
punch
Strike with fist
metal · gold · silver · platinum · palladium · jewelry · cutlery · silverware · plate · bullion
genuine
Truly what it claims
- authenticVerified as original
- certifiedOfficially declared valid
- verificationProving something accurate
assay · purity · provenance · sterling · fineness · goldsmith · silversmith · karat · stamped · marked
- goldpure gold, solid gold, fine gold, 24 karat, gold bullion
- gold testingacid test, touchstone, scratch test, gold purity, fineness
- representationsrepresentation, statue, symbol, portraits, emblem
- symbolssymbols, runes, symbol, asterisks, national symbol
- idealsideal, utopia, archetypes, models, paradise
- emblemsemblems, emblem, crests, badge, seal
hallmarkflaw
Imperfection in something
defect · shortcoming · blemish · weakness · failing
hallmarkanomaly
Departure from the expected
aberration · exception · deviation · irregularity · atypicality
- Hallmark movieFormulaic festive romance film
- Hallmark ChannelCable channel featuring feel-good programming
- Hallmark momentIdealized sentimental scene
- hallmark holidayCommercially invented occasion