a mark on an article of trade to indicate its origin and authenticity
"The goldsmith's hallmarked ring bears the official stamp confirming its pure 18-karat quality."
A distinguishing characteristic.
"The company's unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability is a hallmark of its business strategy."
In plain English: A hallmark is a special sign that shows something has high quality and comes from a specific source.
"The festive lights and carols are the hallmarks of this holiday season."
To provide or stamp with a hallmark.
"The craftsman carefully stamped each silver bracelet with his official hallmark to certify its purity."
In plain English: To hallmark something is to mark it with an official symbol showing its quality and origin.
"The special effects team will hallmark this film with groundbreaking visuals that change how movies are made forever."
A surname.
"The author Hallmark wrote several best-selling novels in the 1920s."
The word "hallmark" comes from Goldsmiths' Hall in London, where an official stamp was used to mark the purity of gold and silver items. Its general meaning evolved into any sign of quality by the mid-1800s, while it began being used as a verb starting in 1773.