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View synonyms for

punctuation

[ puhngk-choo-ey-shuhn ]

noun

  1. the practice or system of using certain conventional marks or characters in writing or printing in order to separate elements and make the meaning clear, as in ending a sentence or separating clauses.
  2. the act of punctuating.
  3. Biology. the sudden or accelerated extinction of some species and emergence of others, occurring only in isolated periods, as set forth in the theory of punctuated equilibrium.


punctuation

/ ˌʌŋʊˈɪʃə /

noun

  1. the use of symbols not belonging to the alphabet of a writing system to indicate aspects of the intonation and meaning not otherwise conveyed in the written language
  2. the symbols used for this purpose
  3. the act or an instance of punctuating
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • ܲԳt·tDz· ܲԳt·t adjective
  • ԴDzpܲԳ·ٳ·tDz noun
  • pܲԳ·ٳ·tDz noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of punctuation1

First recorded in 1530–40; from Medieval Latin ūԳٳپō- (stem of ūԳٳپō ) “a marking, pointing”; punctuate, -ion
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

If Vargas Llosa’s death serves as the closing punctuation for the era El Boom, it also marks a shift in Peruvian letters.

From

They are the textural punctuation mark that so many dishes need, which is why French’s fried onions hold a place of honor in the American holiday kitchen.

From

Where permitted, Nézet-Séquin added sharp orchestral punctuations but otherwise let the orchestra support without fuss a commanding pianist.

From

Often they’re written in all caps without proper grammar, punctuation or line breaks that would make them easier to read.

From

Judge Derek Hough called the cha-cha “a punctuation mark letting everybody know that you are a top contender on this show.”

From

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punctuated equilibriumpunctuationalism