designation
Americannoun
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an act of designating.
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the fact of being designated.
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something that designates; a distinctive name or title; appellation.
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nomination, appointment, or election to an office, position, etc..
His designation as treasurer has been confirmed.
noun
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something that designates, such as a name or distinctive mark
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the act of designating or the fact of being designated
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of designation
1350–1400; Middle English designacioun < Latin dēsignātiōn- (stem of dēsignātiō ) a marking out, equivalent to dēsignāt ( us ) ( see designate) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
When something has a designation, it has a title or a description that helps you identify it. The “organic” designation on the vegetables you buy lets you know that no pesticides were used in growing the plants. Designation can refer to a title, official or otherwise. You may earn the designation “class clown” for your goofiness, or ask your friends to refer to you by the designation, "Madame Super Brain." Designation is also the act of assigning such a title or position, like the designation of your daughter as heir to your estate. Often, designation refers to giving a formal position. The district board may be responsible for the designation of the next principal at your school.
Vocabulary lists containing designation
47 Great Words from "The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao," by Junot Diaz
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50 Great Words from "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," by Jonathan Safran-Foer
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Auggie & Me
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Supreme Court disagreed with Bush, declaring in a landmark decision that despite detainees’ designation as enemy combatants or incarceration at Guantánamo, they are not barred from seeking habeas.
From Slate • Jun. 18, 2026
That designation, which had never been sought before, would allow the use of historic tax credits to help fund its conversion to housing.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026
Hesai, which previously said the designation caused “serious reputational injury, a significant drop in stock price, and lost business opportunities,” has returned to this year’s list.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
It also gave the president the exact height and weight ratio to keep him right under an “obese” body mass index, a designation so convenient as to be laughable.
From Salon • Jun. 1, 2026
In the sixties, minority became a synonym for socially disadvantaged Americans—but it was primarily a numerical designation.
From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
