annotation
Americannoun
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a critical or explanatory note or body of notes added to a text.
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the act of annotating.
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note. annot.
noun
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the act of annotating
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a note added in explanation, etc, esp of some literary work
Usage
What does annotation mean? An annotation is a note or comment added to a text to provide explanation or criticism about a particular part of it. Annotation can also refer to the act of annotating—adding annotations. Annotations are often added to scholarly articles or to literary works that are being analyzed. But the term can be used in a more general way to refer to a note added to any text. For example, a note that you scribble in the margin of your textbook is an annotation, as is an explanatory comment that you add to a list of tasks at work. Something that has had such notes added to it can be described as annotated. The word annotation is sometimes abbreviated as annot. (which can also mean annotated or annotator). Example: The annotations in this edition of the book really helped me to understand the historical context and the meanings of some obscure words.
Other Word Forms
- reannotation noun
Etymology
Origin of annotation
First recorded in 1425–75, annotation is from the Latin word annotātiōn- (stem of annotātiō ). See annotate, -ion
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.
Innodata’s stock rose after Palantir Technologies selected it for training data and annotation capabilities, with financial terms undisclosed.
From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI has laid off 500 workers from its data annotation team, which helps train its Grok chatbot.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 15, 2025
While our study focused on viruses in the global oceans, improved annotation of viral proteins is critical for better understanding the role viruses play in health and disease in the human body.
From Salon • May 17, 2024
Miller confirms he has seen this letter - and that he wrote an annotation on his that says: "Please ensure that these issues are fully addressed... keep me in touch."
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2024
Scrolling further down the screen, Charles came across a rather unusual annotation: “You didn’t really think we’d make it that easy, did you?”
From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein
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.
