noun

watermark

WAW-tuh-mahk

Watermark (noun) means a faint design pressed into paper, visible when held up to light, often used to prove authenticity. Example: “She held the banknote up to the light to check the watermark.”

noun

A faint design pressed into paper, visible when held up to light, often used to prove authenticity.

"She held the banknote up to the light to check the watermark."

A logo or text overlaid on a digital image or video to show ownership or prevent unauthorized use.

"The photographer added a watermark to every image on his portfolio site."

A mark showing the level a body of water has reached.

"You could see the old watermark on the wall from last year's flood."

verb

To mark something, especially a digital file or paper, with a watermark.

"The studio watermarks every preview clip before release."

How to use watermark

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA faint identifying mark, whether pressed into paper, overlaid on media, or left by rising water.

Common pairings

add a watermark digital watermark watermarked image

Word forms

watermarked past tense, watermarks plural, watermarks singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She held the banknote up to the light to check the _____.

Etymology

A compound of "water" and "mark" — originally referring to the faint mark left by water, later adopted for the paper-printing technique.

Synonyms

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water line

Frequently asked questions

What does “watermark” mean?

The word “watermark” means a faint design pressed into paper, visible when held up to light, often used to prove authenticity. In plain terms, a faint identifying mark, whether pressed into paper, overlaid on media, or left by rising water.

How do you pronounce “watermark”?

“Watermark” is pronounced WAW-tuh-mahk (/ˈwɔːtəmɑːk/ in IPA).

How do you use “watermark” in a sentence?

Here is “watermark” used in a sentence: “She held the banknote up to the light to check the watermark.”

What part of speech is “watermark”?

Depending on how it is used, “watermark” can be a noun and a verb.

How many meanings does “watermark” have?

“Watermark” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a faint design pressed into paper, visible when held up to light, often used to prove authenticity.