interrogation point

2.5

A punctuation mark shaped like ? used at the end of a question

noun
/ˌɪntəˈrɒɡeɪʃən pɔɪnt/

Specialized

: signo de interrogación

An interrogation point is used to indicate a question.

Examples

You forgot to put an interrogation point at the end of your sentence.
Did you see the interrogation point at the end of that sentence?
Every direct question in English ends with an interrogation point.
Some old style guides prefer the term interrogation point instead of 'question mark'.
Every direct question in English ends with an interrogation point.
You forgot to put an interrogation point at the end of your sentence.
An interrogation point signals that a sentence poses a question.

Synonyms

question mark

vsinterrogation point

15 1.0

A mark placed at the end of a sentence to show it is a question

is the same symbol and function but uses a different name

erotema

vsinterrogation point

Archaic

9.9

The mark ? used at the end of a sentence to show a question

is the same symbol and function but is an alternate term

How Emphatic

interrobang

1 9.9

exclamation mark

3 1.1

interrogation point

Specialized

2.5

period

96 1.0

Surface Forms

interrogation point singular

interrogation points plural

Morphology

interrogation + point

The compound's parts ('interrogation' = questioning, 'point' = mark) transparently point to a mark indicating a question, so a learner who knows both words can plausibly infer it denotes the question mark. However, 'interrogation point' is non‑standard in English (native speakers say 'question mark'), and the link relies on cross‑linguistic calquing, so the meaning is only partially predictable rather than fully compositional.

Etymology

Interrogation point names the small mark you put at the end of a sentence to show a question. Here interrogation means asking questions and point means a small mark, so the whole name literally shows 'this is a question'.