Stamp vs. Affix — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on March 20, 2024
Stamp involves imprinting a design, whereas affix means to attach or secure something to another.
Difference Between Stamp and Affix
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
A stamp signifies an instrument or device used to imprint designs, symbols, or letters onto a surface, typically to indicate authenticity, approval, or identity. Affix, on the other hand, encompasses a broader range of actions related to attaching or securing one object to another. This can include sticking, taping, gluing, or otherwise fastening objects together.
Stamps are often associated with official or legal documents, as well as artistic or decorative uses. For example, a postal stamp on a letter signifies that postage has been paid. Affixing is not limited to specific symbols or designs and can be used for various purposes, such as attaching labels to products or securing a photograph to a document.
While a stamp implies the use of a specific tool to apply a mark or design, affixing is more about the action of attachment, regardless of the means. Stamping requires a pre-made stamp and usually an ink pad, whereas affixing can involve a variety of materials such as adhesives, pins, or tape.
Stamping is a form of affixing in a broader sense, as it involves applying a mark to a surface. However, the primary goal of stamping is to leave an imprint or design, while affixing focuses on the physical attachment of objects.
In contexts where authentication is necessary, a stamp serves as a symbol of verification, authority, or agreement. Meanwhile, affixing something like a seal or signature can also serve a similar purpose but does so through the act of attachment, rather than the imprinting of a design.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
An instrument or device for imprinting designs or symbols.
To attach or secure one object to another.
Purpose
To imprint designs for authentication or decoration.
To physically attach objects for organization, identification, or decoration.
Method
Requires a stamp and ink.
Uses adhesives, pins, tape, etc.
Context
Often used for official or legal documents, and postage.
Used in a variety of settings for attaching items together.
Symbolism
Represents authority, approval, or authenticity.
More about physical attachment without implied symbolism.
Compare with Definitions
Stamp
An official mark indicating a service has been paid for or authorized.
The document bore the official stamp of approval.
Affix
To make something an integral part.
The attachment was affixed to the email.
Stamp
To impress or mark with a stamp or design.
The artist stamped her logo onto the back of the painting.
Affix
To attach something to another thing.
Affix the label to the top of the jar.
Stamp
A small adhesive label affixed to something to indicate postage paid.
He placed a stamp on the envelope.
Affix
To secure an object to a surface.
He affixed the poster to the wall with tape.
Stamp
A characteristic or distinctive impression.
His work has the stamp of genius.
Affix
To join or attach (as in grammar, affixing prefixes or suffixes).
The prefix un- was affixed to the word to form its opposite.
Stamp
A tool for imprinting designs or symbols on a surface.
She used a stamp to mark the documents.
Affix
To apply a seal or signature as a means of authentication.
The notary affixed her seal to the document.
Stamp
Bring down (one's foot) heavily on the ground or on something on the ground
He stamped his foot in frustration
Robertson stamped on all these suggestions
He threw his cigarette down and stamped on it
Affix
In linguistics, an affix is a morpheme that is attached to a word stem to form a new word or word form. Affixes may be derivational, like English -ness and pre-, or inflectional, like English plural -s and past tense -ed.
Stamp
Impress a pattern or mark on (a surface, object, or document) using an engraved or inked block or die
The woman stamped my passport
Affix
Stick, attach, or fasten (something) to something else
Panels to which he affixes copies of fine old prints
Stamp
Fix a postage stamp or stamps on to (a letter)
Annie stamped the envelope for her
Affix
An addition to the base form or stem of a word in order to modify its meaning or create a new word.
Stamp
Crush or pulverize (ore).
Affix
To secure to something; attach
Affix a label to a package.
Stamp
An instrument for stamping a pattern or mark, in particular an engraved or inked block or die.
Affix
To impute; attribute
Affix blame to him.
Stamp
A small adhesive piece of paper stuck to something to show that an amount of money has been paid, in particular a postage stamp
TV licence stamps
A first-class stamp
Affix
To place at the end; append
Affix a postscript to a letter.
Stamp
An act or sound of stamping with the foot
The stamp of boots on the bare floor
Affix
(Linguistics) To add as an affix.
Stamp
A block for crushing ore in a stamp mill.
Affix
Something that is attached, joined, or added; an appendage or addition.
Stamp
To bring down (the foot) forcibly.
Affix
(Linguistics) A word element, such as a prefix or suffix, that can only occur attached to a base, stem, or root.
Stamp
To bring the foot down onto (an object or surface) forcibly.
Affix
That which is affixed; an appendage.
Stamp
To cause to be dislodged by stomping the feet
He stamped the snow from his boots.
Affix
(linguistic morphology) A bound morpheme added to the word’s stem's end.
Stamp
To subdue, destroy, or eliminate
Stamped the rebellion.
Stamp out a fire.
Affix
A bound morpheme added to a word’s stem; a prefix, suffix, etc.
Stamp
To crush or grind with a heavy instrument
Stamp ore.
Affix
(mathematics) The complex number associated with the point in the Gauss plane with coordinates .
Stamp
To form or cut out by application of a mold, form, or die
Washers that were stamped from a piece of sheet metal.
Affix
(decorative art) Any small feature, as a figure, a flower, or the like, added for ornament to a vessel or other utensil, to an architectural feature.
Stamp
To imprint or impress with a mark, design, or seal
Stamp a passport.
Affix
(transitive) To attach.
To affix a stigma to a person
To affix ridicule or blame to somebody
Stamp
To impress forcibly or permanently
An experience that was stamped on his memory.
Affix
(transitive) To subjoin, annex, or add at the close or end; to append to.
To affix a syllable to a word
To affix a seal to an instrument
To affix one's name to a writing
Stamp
To affix an adhesive stamp to (an envelope, for example).
Affix
(transitive) To fix or fasten figuratively; with on or upon.
Eyes affixed upon the ground
Stamp
To identify, characterize, or reveal
Stamped her as a traitor to the cause.
Affix
To subjoin, annex, or add at the close or end; to append to; to fix to any part of; as, to affix a syllable to a word; to affix a seal to an instrument; to affix one's name to a writing.
Stamp
To thrust the foot forcibly downward
Stamp on the brake pedal.
Affix
To fix or fasten in any way; to attach physically.
Should they [caterpillars] affix them to the leaves of a plant improper for their food.
Stamp
To walk with forcible, heavy steps.
Affix
To attach, unite, or connect with; as, names affixed to ideas, or ideas affixed to things; to affix a stigma to a person; to affix ridicule or blame to any one.
Stamp
The act of stamping.
Affix
To fix or fasten figuratively; - with on or upon; as, eyes affixed upon the ground.
Stamp
An implement or device used to impress, cut out, or shape something to which it is applied.
Affix
That which is affixed; an appendage; esp. one or more letters or syllables added at the end of a word; a suffix; a postfix.
Stamp
An impression or shape formed by such an implement or device.
Affix
A linguistic element added to a word to produce an inflected or derived form
Stamp
An official mark, design, or seal that indicates ownership, approval, completion, or the payment of a tax.
Affix
Attach to;
Affix the seal here
Stamp
A small piece of gummed paper sold by a government for attachment to an article that is to be mailed; a postage stamp.
Affix
Add to the very end;
He appended a glossary to his novel where he used an invented language
Stamp
A similar piece of gummed paper issued for a specific purpose
Trading stamps.
Affix
Attach or become attached to a stem word;
Grammatical morphemes afix to the stem
Stamp
An identifying or characterizing mark or impression
His work bears the stamp of genius.
Stamp
Characteristic nature or quality
A person of her stamp.
Stamp
An act of stamping the foot, paw or hoof.
The horse gave two quick stamps and rose up on its hind legs.
Stamp
An indentation, imprint, or mark made by stamping.
My passport has quite a collection of stamps.
Stamp
A device for stamping designs.
She loved to make designs with her collection of stamps.
Stamp
A small piece of paper, with a design and a face value, used to prepay postage or other dues such as tax or licence fees.
I need one first-class stamp to send this letter.
Now that commerce is done electronically, tax stamps are no longer issued here.
Stamp
A small piece of paper bearing a design on one side and adhesive on the other, used to decorate letters or craft work.
These stamps have a Christmas theme.
Stamp
A tattoo.
Stamp
(slang) A single dose of lysergic acid diethylamide.
Stamp
A kind of heavy pestle, raised by water or steam power, for crushing ores.
Stamp
Cast; form; character; distinguishing mark or sign; evidence.
The stamp of criminality
Stamp
(intransitive) To step quickly and heavily, once or repeatedly.
The toddler screamed and stamped, but still got no candy.
Stamp
(transitive) To move (the foot or feet) quickly and heavily, once or repeatedly.
The crowd cheered and stamped their feet in appreciation.
Stamp
(transitive) To strike, beat, or press forcibly with the bottom of the foot, or by thrusting the foot downward.
Stamp
(transitive) To mark by pressing quickly and heavily.
This machine stamps the metal cover with a design.
This machine stamps the design into the metal cover.
Stamp
(transitive) To give an official marking to, generally by impressing or imprinting a design or symbol.
The immigration officer stamped my passport.
Stamp
(transitive) To apply postage stamps to.
I forgot to stamp this letter.
Stamp
To mark; to impress.
Stamp
To strike beat, or press forcibly with the bottom of the foot, or by thrusting the foot downward.
He frets, he fumes, he stares, he stamps the ground.
Stamp
To bring down (the foot) forcibly on the ground or floor; as, he stamped his foot with rage.
Stamp
To crush; to pulverize; specifically (Metal.), to crush by the blow of a heavy stamp, as ore in a mill.
I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, and ground it very small.
Stamp
To impress with some mark or figure; as, to stamp a plate with arms or initials.
Stamp
Fig.: To impress; to imprint; to fix deeply; as, to stamp virtuous principles on the heart.
God . . . has stamped no original characters on our minds wherein we may read his being.
Stamp
To cut out, bend, or indent, as paper, sheet metal, etc., into various forms, by a blow or suddenly applied pressure with a stamp or die, etc.; to mint; to coin.
Stamp
To put a stamp on, as for postage; as, to stamp a letter; to stamp a legal document.
Stamp
To strike; to beat; to crush.
These cooks how they stamp and strain and grind.
Stamp
To strike the foot forcibly downward.
But starts, exclaims, and stamps, and raves, and dies.
Stamp
The act of stamping, as with the foot.
Stamp
The which stamps; any instrument for making impressions on other bodies, as a die.
'T is gold so pureIt can not bear the stamp without alloy.
Stamp
The mark made by stamping; a mark imprinted; an impression.
That sacred name gives ornament and grace,And, like his stamp, makes basest metals pass.
Stamp
That which is marked; a thing stamped.
Hanging a golden stamp about their necks.
Stamp
A picture cut in wood or metal, or made by impression; a cut; a plate.
At Venice they put out very curious stamps of the several edifices which are most famous for their beauty and magnificence.
Stamp
An official mark set upon things chargeable with a duty or tax to government, as evidence that the duty or tax is paid; as, the stamp on a bill of exchange.
Stamp
A stamped or printed device, usually paper, issued by the government at a fixed price, and required by law to be affixed to, or stamped on, certain papers, as evidence that the government dues are paid; as, a postage stamp; a tax stamp; a receipt stamp, etc.
Stamp
An instrument for cutting out, or shaping, materials, as paper, leather, etc., by a downward pressure.
Stamp
A character or reputation, good or bad, fixed on anything as if by an imprinted mark; current value; authority; as, these persons have the stamp of dishonesty; the Scriptures bear the stamp of a divine origin.
Of the same stamp is that which is obtruded on us, that an adamant suspends the attraction of the loadstone.
Stamp
Make; cast; form; character; as, a man of the same stamp, or of a different stamp.
A soldier of this season's stamp.
Stamp
A kind of heavy hammer, or pestle, raised by water or steam power, for beating ores to powder; anything like a pestle, used for pounding or beating.
Stamp
A half-penny.
Stamp
Money, esp. paper money.
Stamp
A token that postal fees have been paid
Stamp
The distinctive form in which a thing is made;
Pottery of this cast was found throughout the region
Stamp
A type or class;
More men of his stamp are needed
Stamp
A symbol that is the result of printing;
He put his stamp on the envelope
Stamp
Machine consisting of a heavy bar that moves vertically for pounding or crushing ores
Stamp
A block or die used to imprint a mark or design
Stamp
A device incised to make an impression; used to secure a closing or to authenticate documents
Stamp
Walk heavily;
The men stomped through the snow in their heavy boots
Stamp
To mark, or produce an imprint in or on something;
A man whose name is permanently stamped on our maps
Stamp
Reveal clearly as having a certain character;
His playing stamps him as a Romantic
Stamp
Affix a stamp to;
Are the letters properly stamped?
Stamp
Treat or classify according to a mental stereotype;
I was stereotyped as a lazy Southern European
Stamp
Destroy or extinguish as if by stamping with the foot;
Stamp fascism into submission
Stamp out tyranny
Stamp
Form or cut out with a mold, form, or die;
Stamp needles
Stamp
Crush or grind with a heavy instrument;
Stamp fruit extract the juice
Stamp
Raise in a relief;
Embossed stationary
Common Curiosities
Can affixing be temporary?
Yes, affixing can be temporary or permanent, depending on the materials and methods used.
What is the difference between stamping and printing?
Stamping involves applying a design with a pre-made stamp, usually with ink, while printing can involve various methods for transferring text or images onto surfaces.
Is a stamp always physical?
While stamps are traditionally physical, the concept can extend to digital forms, like digital stamps or watermarks for documents and images.
What tools are needed to affix something?
The tools depend on the method of attachment, ranging from simple adhesives to more complex fastening systems.
What does it mean to stamp a document?
Stamping a document means applying an official mark or design to it, usually to indicate authenticity, approval, or completion.
How do you affix something to a wall?
You can affix something to a wall using adhesives, nails, tacks, or mounting tape, depending on the object's weight and the wall's material.
What are the legal implications of stamping a document?
Stamping can legally authenticate a document, indicating approval, consent, or adherence to regulatory standards.
How do cultural practices influence stamping and affixing?
Cultural practices can dictate the symbols used in stamps or the methods of affixing, reflecting traditions and values.
What are common materials for stamps and affixes?
Stamps are often made of rubber or metal, while affixes can be made from paper, adhesive, metal, or digital components.
Is it necessary to use ink with all stamps?
Traditional stamping involves ink, but some stamps, like embossers, create raised designs without ink.
How does affixing relate to mailing?
In mailing, affixing typically refers to attaching postage stamps or labels to envelopes or packages.
Can affixing damage the objects involved?
Depending on the method and materials used, affixing can potentially damage objects, especially if the attachment is removed improperly.
Can digital documents be stamped or affixed?
Digital documents can be "stamped" with digital signatures or watermarks and "affixed" with digital attachments or links.
Can a stamp be affixed?
Yes, postage stamps are affixed to mail as a form of payment and marking.
How does one choose between stamping and affixing?
The choice depends on the purpose: stamping for marking or authenticating, and affixing for physically attaching items.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Whip vs. Cane
Next Comparison
Persimmon vs. KakiAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
