quotation mark

noun

one of the marks used to indicate the beginning and end of a quotation, in English usually shown as “ at the beginning and ” at the end, or, for a quotation within a quotation, of single marks of this kind, as “He said, ‘I will go.’ ” Frequently, especially in Great Britain, single marks are used instead of double, the latter being then used for a quotation within a quotation.
Sometimes quote mark.

Origin of quotation mark

First recorded in 1880–85

Words nearby quotation mark

quota sampling, quota system, quota-hopping, quotable, quotation, quotation mark, quotation marks, quote, quote-driven, quote-unquote, quoted company

Content related to quotation marks

How To Use Quotation Marks Quotation Marks Rules: When it comes to where to place quotation marks, people get confused. Follow these quotation marks rules for punctuation.
READ MORE

British Dictionary definitions for quotation marks

quotation mark

noun

either of the punctuation marks used to begin or end a quotation, respectively “ and ” or ‘ and ’ in English printing and writing. When double marks are used, single marks indicate a quotation within a quotation, and vice versa Also called: inverted comma

Cultural definitions for quotation marks

quotation marks

Punctuation marks (“ ”) that set off dialogue, quoted material, titles of short works, and definitions. When something must be quoted inside a quotation, single quotation marks are used: “‘Religion,’ according to Karl Marx (see also Marx), ‘is the opiate of the masses.’”