Thesaurus article: a mark on something

These words refer to a small area on something that is damaged or dirty and so noticeable.

One common word for this is mark.

If a dirty mark is difficult to remove, you could use the word stain.

Smear or smudge can be used for marks which look like someone has rubbed something dirty on a surface. Smear is usually used to refer to marks left by a thick liquid, and smudge is most often used to refer to marks left by dirty hands or fingers.

A mark which has an irregular shape, especially on someone's skin, is often called a blotch.

A very small mark can be called a speck or fleck.

Spot can be used for a mark which is round.

Streak can be used for long thin marks.

If a mark has been made by blood, you could use the word bloodstain.