punctuation

UK: /ˌpʌŋktʃʊˈeɪʃ^ən/

US: /ˌpʌŋktʃuˈeɪʃən/

US: (pungk′cho̅o̅ ā′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

punc•tu•a•tion /ˌpʌŋktʃuˈeɪʃən/   n. [uncountable]

1. the practice or system of using certain marks or characters in writing or printing in order to separate the elements of sentences and make the meaning clear:
   a lesson on correct punctuation, such as ending a sentence with a period and a question with a question mark.
2. punctuation marks, thought of as a group:
   Use punctuation to signal the connections between and among your sentences.

See -punct-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

punc•tu•a•tion  (pungk′cho̅o̅ ā′shən), n. 

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. punctuation marks.

• Medieval Latin pūnctuātiōn- (stem of pūnctuātiō) a marking, pointing. See punctuate, -ion
• 1530–40

punc′tu•a′tion•al, punc′tu•a′tive, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

punctuation / ˌpʌŋktjʊˈeɪʃən/ 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