A hallmark is a special mark or feature that shows something is genuine or of high quality. More generally, it can mean a typical or defining characteristic of a person, group, or thing.
From “hall” + “mark,” originally the official stamp put on precious metals at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London to show purity. Over time, it came to mean any sign of quality or authenticity.
A hallmark began as a literal stamp from a London hall that guaranteed your gold or silver was real. Now we use it for invisible stamps—those standout traits that certify a person’s style or a work’s quality.
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