signature

[sig-nuh-cher, -choor]

noun

1. a person's name, or a mark representing it, as signed personally or by deputy, as in subscribing a letter or other document.

2. the act of signing a document.

3. Music.,  a sign or set of signs at the beginning of a staff to indicate the key or the time of a piece.

4. Radio.,  a song, musical arrangement, sound effect, etc., used as a theme identifying a program.

5. any unique, distinguishing aspect, feature, or mark.

6. Medicine/Medical.,  that part of a written prescription that specifies directions for use.

7. Biology, Medicine/Medical.,  a distinctive characteristic or set of characteristics by which a biological structure or medical condition is recognized.

8. Also called section. Bookbinding.,  a printed sheet folded to page size for binding together, with other such sheets, to form a book, magazine, etc.

9. Printing.

   1. a letter or other symbol generally placed by the printer at the foot of the first page of every sheet to guide the binder in folding the sheets and in gathering them in sequence.

   2. a sheet so marked.

10. Chemistry, Physics.,  a characteristic trace or sign that indicates the presence of a substance or the occurrence of a physical process or event.

    The satellite recorded a spectrum that is the signature of a nuclear explosion.

adjective

1. serving to identify or distinguish a person, group, etc..

   a signature tune.

signature

/ ˈsɪɡnɪtʃə /

noun

1. the name of a person or a mark or sign representing his name, marked by himself or by an authorized deputy

2. the act of signing one's name

3. 1. a distinctive mark, characteristic, etc, that identifies a person or thing

   2. ( as modifier )

      a signature fragrance

4. music See key signature time signature

5. Abbreviation: Sig.  S. the part of a medical prescription that instructs a patient how frequently and in what amounts he should take a drug or agent

6. printing

   1. a sheet of paper printed with several pages that upon folding will become a section or sections of a book

   2. such a sheet so folded

   3. a mark, esp a letter, printed on the first page of a signature

Other Word Forms

• signatureless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of signature¹

1525–35; < Medieval Latin signātūra a signing, equivalent to Latin signāt ( us ) past participle of signāre to mark ( sign, -ate ¹ ) + -ūra -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of signature¹

C16: from Old French, from Medieval Latin signātura, from Latin signāre to sign

Example Sentences

Registrar of Voters faced attacks over the integrity of the 2024 election after unfounded allegations of forged signatures, non-U.S. citizens voting and duplicated ballots circulated on social media.

From Los Angeles Times

Online conversations quickly pivoted from critique of the finale to celebrating her signature Burrellisms.

From Salon

The exterior walls are his signature salmon pink and the toilets are almost a century old.

From Los Angeles Times

Republican members of Congress across the country, as they begin to contemplate next year’s midterm elections, have adopted new messaging around their signature legislation, still officially known as the One Big Beautiful Bill.

From Salon

The ad drew some 40 billion impressions and helped Sweeney's signature jeans selling out within a week of the campaign's launch.

From BBC

Related Words

• autograph 
• identification 
• ink 
• name 
• seal 
• stamp 
• trademark