stamp

American  

[stamp] / stæmp /

verb (used with object)

1. to strike or beat with a forcible, downward thrust of the foot.

2. to bring (the foot) down forcibly or smartly on the ground, floor, etc.

3. to extinguish, crush, etc., by striking with a forcible downward thrust of the foot (followed byout ).

   to stamp out a fire.

4. to suppress or quell (a rebellion, uprising, etc.) quickly through the use of overwhelming force (usually followed byout ).

   Synonyms:

   quash, eliminate

5. to crush or pound with or as with a pestle.

6. to impress with a particular mark or device, as to indicate genuineness, approval, or ownership.

   to stamp a document with a seal.

7. to mark or impress with a design, word, mark, etc..

   Age stamped his face with lines.

8. to impress (a design, word, mark, etc.) on.

   to stamp one's initials on a document.

9. to affix a postage stamp to (a letter, envelope, etc.).

10. to characterize, distinguish, or reveal.

    His ingenuity with words stamped him as a potential poet.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to bring the foot down forcibly or smartly, as in crushing something, expressing rage, etc.

2. to walk with forcible or heavy, resounding steps.

   He stamped out of the room in anger.

noun

1. a postage stamp.

2. an act or instance of stamping.

3. a die or block for impressing or imprinting.

4. a design or legend made with such a die or block.

5. an official mark indicating genuineness, validity, etc., or payment of a duty or charge.

6. a peculiar or distinctive impression or mark.

   a great man who left his stamp on legal procedure.

7. character, kind, or type.

   a woman of serious stamp.

8. an official seal or device appearing on a business or legal document to show that a tax has been paid.

9. Also called local.  Also called local stamp.  such a device, often similar to a postage stamp issued by a private organization to show that the charges for mail carrying have been paid.

10. trading stamp.

11. food stamp.

12. an instrument for stamping, crushing, or pounding.

13. a heavy piece of iron or the like, as in a stamp mill, for crushing ore or other material.

stamp British  

/ stæmp /

verb

1. to bring (the foot) down heavily (on the ground, etc)

2. (intr) to walk with heavy or noisy footsteps

3. to repress, extinguish, or eradicate

   he stamped on any criticism

4. (tr) to impress or mark (a particular device or sign) on (something)

5. to mark (something) with an official impress, seal, or device

   to stamp a passport

6. (tr) to fix or impress permanently

   the date was stamped on her memory

7. (tr) to affix a postage stamp to

8. (tr) to distinguish or reveal

   that behaviour stamps him as a cheat

9. to pound or crush (ores, etc)

---

noun

1. the act or an instance of stamping

2. 1. See postage stamp

   2. a mark applied to postage stamps for cancellation purposes

3. a similar piece of gummed paper used for commercial or trading purposes

4. a block, die, etc, used for imprinting a design or device

5. a design, device, or mark that has been stamped

6. a characteristic feature or trait; hallmark

   the story had the stamp of authenticity

7. a piece of gummed paper or other mark applied to official documents to indicate payment of a fee, validity, ownership, etc

8. informal a national insurance contribution, formerly recorded by means of a stamp on an official card

9. type or class

   we want to employ men of his stamp

10. an instrument or machine for crushing or pounding ores, etc, or the pestle in such a device

stamp Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing stamp

• rubber stamp

---

Usage

What else does stamp mean? Content warning: the following content includes references to illicit drugs. In slang, stamp can refer to LSD (acid) or a bag of heroin. It can also be short for food stamps or the expression stamp of approval.

Related Words

See abolish.

Other Word Forms

• misstamp verb (used with object)
• nonstampable adjective
• prestamp noun
• restamp verb
• stampable adjective
• stamper noun
• stampless adjective
• superstamp noun
• understamp noun
• unstamped adjective

Etymology

Origin of stamp

1150–1200; (v.) early Middle English stampen to pound, crush, probably continuing Old English *stampian (cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German stampen, Old High German stampfōn, Old Norse stappa ); sense development apparently influenced by Old French estamper to stamp < Germanic; (noun) late Middle English: instrument for stamping an impression; partly derivative of the v., partly < Old French estampe, derivative of estamper

Explanation

When you stamp, you step hard, either on the ground or on some object. If you're terrified of bugs, you might be tempted to stamp on a big, weird looking beetle. You can stamp your foot when you're angry, or stamp out a small campfire after you've finished toasting marshmallows. Another way to stamp is to apply a mark or pattern to something — you might stamp your classmates' hands with ink as they enter the school dance, or stamp your return address onto an envelope. Stamp comes from Middle English, with a Germanic root — it's closely related to the German word stampfen, or "stamp with the foot."

Example Sentences

The deal still needs to be approved by shareholders later this month, as well as get a stamp of approval from government regulators.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

In the U.K., the price of a standard Royal Mail first-class stamp is the equivalent of $2.42.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

The ministry has said a "zero-tolerance policy" will be implemented to stamp out fraud, including investigations, and publicising those guilty of fraud.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Putting her own stamp on the design foundation she inherited was also important for Farr.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

This U.S. stamp is based on a tulip from her flower book.

From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman

Related Words

• emblem
• print
• signature
• sticker