Sign vs. Plaque — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 1, 2024
A sign typically provides guidance or information using symbols or words, while a plaque is a flat piece of material inscribed or commemorated for dedication or identification purposes.
Difference Between Sign and Plaque
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Signs are primarily designed to communicate specific information, often used to direct, inform, or warn the public. Whereas plaques are used to commemorate events, individuals, or achievements, and are typically mounted on surfaces like walls or pedestals.
Signs are often temporary or changeable, intended for functional use in environments like roads, buildings, or stores. On the other hand, plaques are more permanent fixtures, often made of durable materials like metal or stone to withstand time.
While signs are utilitarian in nature and straightforward in design, plaques often incorporate decorative elements and elaborate text to convey prestige and respect.
Signs are essential for navigation and safety, prominently displayed to attract attention and deliver clear messages. Conversely, plaques serve a more ceremonial role, subtly blending into their surroundings to offer historical insights or recognition.
Signs cater to immediate and practical needs for communication in everyday settings, whereas plaques provide a lasting tribute or historical marker that enriches an environment.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
To guide, inform, or warn.
To commemorate or dedicate.
Material
Varied, often lightweight.
Typically metal, stone, or wood.
Durability
Can be temporary or permanent.
Usually permanent.
Placement
Highly visible locations.
Often on walls or pedestals.
Design Elements
Functional, straightforward.
Decorative, elaborate.
Compare with Definitions
Sign
An indication or evidence of some fact or quality.
Dark clouds are a sign of impending rain.
Plaque
A flat plate, typically of metal, used as a memorial or marker.
The brass plaque commemorates the building's historical significance.
Sign
A gesture used to convey information or instructions.
He gave a sign to proceed with the presentation.
Plaque
A small, distinct patch appearing different in color or texture from the surrounding surface.
Patches of plaque can be a symptom of certain skin disorders.
Sign
An object, quality, or event whose presence indicates the probable presence of something else.
Flowers in bloom are a sign of spring.
Plaque
An ornamental tablet, typically of metal, fixed to a wall in memory of a person or event.
A plaque on the wall honors the founder.
Sign
A displayed structure bearing lettering or symbols, used to identify or advertise a place of business.
The neon sign flickered above the diner entrance.
Plaque
A sign or plate bearing a name or information attached to an object.
The desk bore a plaque with his name and title.
Sign
A symbol or notice conveying information or instructions.
The road sign warned of upcoming sharp bends.
Plaque
An ornamental tablet, typically of metal, porcelain, or wood, that is fixed to a wall or other surface in commemoration of a person or event.
Sign
A sign is an object, quality, event, or entity whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else. A natural sign bears a causal relation to its object—for instance, thunder is a sign of storm, or medical symptoms a sign of disease.
Plaque
A sticky deposit on teeth in which bacteria proliferate
Plaque around gum margins can lead to gingivitis
Sign
An object, quality, or event whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else
The shops are full, which is a sign that the recession is past its worst
Flowers are often given as a sign of affection
Plaque
A small, distinct, typically raised patch or region on or within the body resulting from local damage or deposition of material, such as a fatty deposit on an artery wall in atherosclerosis or a site of localized damage of brain tissue in Alzheimer's disease.
Sign
A gesture or action used to convey information or an instruction
She gave him the thumbs-up sign
Plaque
A flat counter used in gambling.
Sign
A notice on public display that gives information or instructions in a written or symbolic form
I didn't see the ‘Stop’ sign
Plaque
A flat plate, slab, or disk that is ornamented or engraved for mounting, as on a wall for decoration or on a monument for information.
Sign
Each of the twelve equal sections into which the zodiac is divided, named from the constellations formerly situated in each, and associated with successive periods of the year according to the position of the sun on the ecliptic
A person born under the sign of Virgo
A sign of the Zodiac
Plaque
A small pin or brooch worn as an ornament or a badge of membership.
Sign
The positiveness or negativeness of a quantity
The last four bits hold a pattern to represent the sign of the number
Plaque
A scaly patch on a body part, especially the skin.
Sign
Write one's name on (a letter, card, document, etc.) to identify oneself as the writer or sender
The card was signed by the whole class
Plaque
A biofilm of bacteria in a matrix of polysaccharides and other substances on the surface of a tooth or teeth.
Sign
Use gestures to convey information or instructions
She signed to her husband to leave the room
Plaque
A deposit of fatty material on the inner lining of an arterial wall, characteristic of atherosclerosis.
Sign
Indicate with signposts or other markers
The footpath is signed by the gate
Plaque
The material that such a deposit is composed of.
Sign
Mark or consecrate with the sign of the cross
He signed himself with the cross
Plaque
A deposit consisting mainly of beta-amyloid and degenerating nerve tissue, found in the brain tissue of people with Alzheimer's disease.
Sign
Something that suggests the presence or existence of a fact, condition, or quality
A high temperature is a sign of fever.
Plaque
A sharply defined zone of demyelination in the central nervous system characteristic of multiple sclerosis.
Sign
An act or gesture used to convey an idea, a desire, information, or a command
Gave the go-ahead sign.
Plaque
A clear, often round patch of lysed cells in an otherwise opaque layer of a bacteria or cell culture.
Sign
Sign language.
Plaque
(countable) Any flat, thin piece of clay, ivory, metal, etc., used for ornament, or for painting pictures upon, as a dish, plate, slab, etc., hung upon a wall; also, a smaller decoration worn by a person, such as a brooch.
Sign
A displayed structure bearing lettering or symbols, used to identify or advertise a place of business
A motel with a flashing neon sign outside.
Plaque
(countable) A piece of flat metal with writing on it, attached to a building, monument, or other structure to remind people of a person or an event.
Sign
A posted notice bearing a designation, direction, or command
An EXIT sign above a door.
A traffic sign.
Plaque
(countable) A small card representing an amount of money, used for betting in casinos; a sort of gaming chip.
Sign
A conventional figure or device that stands for a word, phrase, or operation; a symbol, as in mathematics or in musical notation.
Plaque
A clearing in a bacterial lawn caused by a virus.
Sign
Pl. sign An indicator, such as a dropping or footprint, of the trail of an animal
Looking for deer sign.
Plaque
In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system: any flat, thin musical instrument.
Blown plaques
Aconcussion plaques
Sign
A trace or vestige
No sign of life.
Plaque
A broad patch of abnormal tissue distinguishable from surrounding tissue, especially a broad irritated]] patch on the skin.
Sign
A portentous incident or event; a presage
Took the eclipse as a sign from God.
Plaque
An abnormal accumulation of material in or on an organ of the body, often associated with disease.
Amyloid plaque
Apleural plaque
Asenile plaque
Sign
(Medicine) An objective finding, usually detected on physical examination, from a laboratory test, or on an x-ray, that indicates the presence of abnormality or disease.
Plaque
An accumulation in artery walls made up of macrophage cells and debris containing lipids, (cholesterol and fatty acids), calcium, and connective tissue; an atheroma.
Sign
One of the 12 divisions of the zodiac, each named for a constellation and represented by a symbol.
Plaque
An accumulation of biofilm, or bacteria, on teeth, which may develop into dental calculus (tartar).
Sign
To affix one's signature to
Signed the letter.
Plaque
A deposit of beta-amyloid protein occurring in a nerve cell and associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Sign
To write (one's signature)
Signed her name to the contract.
Plaque
Any flat, thin piece of metal, clay, ivory, or the like, used for ornament, or for painting pictures upon, as a slab, plate, dish, or the like, hung upon a wall; also, a smaller decoration worn on the person, as a brooch.
Sign
To approve or ratify (a document) by affixing a signature, seal, or other mark
Sign a bill into law.
Plaque
(pathology) a small abnormal patch on or inside the body
Sign
To hire or engage by obtaining a signature on a contract
Signed a rookie pitcher for next season.
Sign up actors for a tour.
Plaque
A memorial made of brass
Sign
To relinquish or transfer title to by signature
Signed away all her claims to the estate.
Sign
To provide with a sign or signs
Sign a new highway.
Sign
To communicate with a sign or signs
Signed his approval with a nod.
Sign
To express (a word or thought, for example) in a sign language
Signed her reply to the question.
Sign
To consecrate with the sign of the cross.
Sign
To make a sign or signs; signal.
Sign
To communicate in a sign language.
Sign
To write one's signature.
Sign
A perceptible (e.g. visible) indication.
Their angry expressions were a clear sign they didn't want to talk.
Those clouds show signs of raining soon.
Those clouds show little sign of raining soon.
Signs of disease are objective, whereas symptoms are subjective.
The sharp sign indicates that the pitch of the note is raised a half step.
I gave them a thumbs-up sign.
Sign
Physical evidence left by an animal.
The hunters found deer sign at the end of the trail.
Sign
A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.
The sign in the window advertised a room for rent.
I missed the sign at the corner so I took the wrong turn.
Sign
A wonder; miracle; prodigy.
Sign
(astrology) An astrological sign.
Your sign is Taurus? That's no surprise.
Sign
(mathematics) Positive or negative polarity, as denoted by the + or - sign.
I got the magnitude right, but the sign was wrong.
Sign
A specific gesture or motion used to communicate by those with speaking or hearing difficulties; now specifically, a linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.
Sign
(uncountable) Sign language in general.
Sorry, I don't know sign very well.
Sign
A semantic unit, something that conveys meaning or information (e.g. a word of written language); a unit consisting of a signifier and a signified concept. sign (semiotics)]].
Sign
An omen.
"It's a sign of the end of the world," the doom prophet said.
Sign
(medicine) A property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, can be detected objectively by someone other than the patient.
Sign
A military emblem carried on a banner or standard.
Sign
To make a mark
Sign
To seal (a document etc.) with an identifying seal or symbol.
The Queen signed her letter with the regal signet.
Sign
(transitive) To mark, to put or leave a mark on.
Sign
(transitive) To validate or ratify (a document) by writing one's signature on it.
Sign
(transitive) More generally, to write one's signature on (something) as a means of identification etc.
I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.
Sign
To write (one's name) as a signature.
Just sign your name at the bottom there.
I received a letter from some woman who signs herself ‘Mrs Trellis’.
Sign
(intransitive) To write one's signature.
Please sign on the dotted line.
Sign
(intransitive) To finalise a contractual agreement to work for a given sports team, record label etc.
Sign
(transitive) To engage (a sports player, musician etc.) in a contract.
It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.
Sign
To make the sign of the cross
Sign
(transitive) To bless (someone or something) with the sign of the cross; to mark with the sign of the cross.
Sign
(reflexive) To cross oneself.
Sign
To indicate
Sign
(intransitive) To communicate using a gesture or signal.
Sign
(transitive) To communicate or make known (a meaning, intention, etc.) by a sign.
Sign
(transitive) To communicate using gestures to (someone).
He signed me that I should follow him through the doorway.
Sign
(intransitive) To use sign language.
Sign
(transitive) To furnish (a road etc.) with signs.
Sign
To determine the sign of
Sign
(transitive) To calculate or derive whether a quantity has a positive or negative sign.
Sign
That by which anything is made known or represented; that which furnishes evidence; a mark; a token; an indication; a proof.
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.
It shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
Sign
Something serving to indicate the existence, or preserve the memory, of a thing; a token; a memorial; a monument.
What time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men, and they became a sign.
Sign
Any symbol or emblem which prefigures, typifles, or represents, an idea; a type; hence, sometimes, a picture.
The holy symbols, or signs, are not barely significative; but what they represent is as certainly delivered to us as the symbols themselves.
Saint George of Merry England, the sign of victory.
Sign
A word or a character regarded as the outward manifestation of thought; as, words are the sign of ideas.
They made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
Sign
Hence, one of the gestures of pantomime, or of a language of a signs such as those used by the North American Indians, or those used by the deaf and dumb.
Sign
A military emblem carried on a banner or a standard.
The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted signs, which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets.
Sign
The twelfth part of the ecliptic or zodiac.
Sign
A character indicating the relation of quantities, or an operation performed upon them; as, the sign + (plus); the sign - (minus); the sign of division ÷, and the like.
Sign
Any character, as a flat, sharp, dot, etc.
An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.
Sign
To represent by a sign; to make known in a typical or emblematic manner, in distinction from speech; to signify.
I signed to Browne to make his retreat.
Sign
To make a sign upon; to mark with a sign.
We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and do sign him with the sign of the cross.
Sign
To affix a signature to; to ratify by hand or seal; to subscribe in one's own handwriting.
Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed,And let him sign it.
Sign
To assign or convey formally; - used with away.
Sign
To mark; to make distinguishable.
Sign
To be a sign or omen.
Sign
To make a sign or signal; to communicate directions or intelligence by signs.
Sign
To write one's name, esp. as a token of assent, responsibility, or obligation.
Sign
A perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened);
He showed signs of strain
They welcomed the signs of spring
Sign
A public display of a (usually written) message;
He posted signs in all the shop windows
Sign
Any communication that encodes a message;
Signals from the boat suddenly stopped
Sign
Structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted;
The highway was lined with signboards
Sign
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
Sign
(medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease;
There were no signs of asphixiation
Sign
Having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges);
He got the polarity of the battery reversed
Charges of opposite sign
Sign
An event that is experienced as indicating important things to come;
He hoped it was an augury
It was a sign from God
Sign
A gesture that is part of a sign language
Sign
A fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified;
The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary
Sign
A character indicating a relation between quantities;
Don't forget the minus sign
Sign
Mark with one's signature; write one's name (on);
She signed the letter and sent it off
Please sign here
Sign
Approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation;
All parties ratified the peace treaty
Have you signed your contract yet?
Sign
Be engaged by a written agreement;
He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18
The soprano signed to sing the new opera
Sign
Engage by written agreement;
They signed two new pitchers for the next season
Sign
Communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs;
He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture
The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu
Sign
Place signs, as along a road;
Sign an intersection
This road has been signed
Sign
Communicate in sign language;
I don't know how to sign, so I could not communicate with my deaf cousin
Sign
Make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate
Sign
Used of the language of the deaf
Common Curiosities
What materials are commonly used to make plaques?
Plaques are typically made from durable materials like metal, stone, or wood.
How do plaques differ from signs in terms of design?
Plaques often feature decorative and elaborate designs, reflecting their commemorative purpose, unlike the more functional and straightforward designs of signs.
In what way do plaques serve an educational purpose?
Plaques serve an educational purpose by providing historical insights or background information about a place, event, or person.
What is a common use of plaques inside buildings?
Inside buildings, plaques are commonly used to honor significant individuals or commemorate historical events.
How do signs contribute to safety?
Signs play a crucial role in safety by providing warnings and information necessary to prevent accidents and ensure orderly behavior.
Can signs be temporary?
Yes, signs can be temporary, especially those used for events or in construction areas, whereas plaques are intended to be permanent.
Where are signs usually placed?
Signs are placed in highly visible locations to ensure they catch the eye of passersby or drivers.
What is an example of a sign that indicates a facility's function?
A hospital sign indicating emergency services is an example of a sign that helps in identifying the function of a facility.
What is the primary function of a sign?
Signs are used to guide, inform, or warn the public about various conditions or directions.
What is an example of a temporary sign?
A roadwork ahead sign is an example of a temporary sign used during construction periods.
Are plaques used outdoors or indoors?
Plaques can be used both outdoors and indoors, depending on their intended purpose.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
