appellation
Americannoun
-
an identifying name or title
-
the act of naming or giving a title to
Other Word Forms
- misappellation noun
Etymology
Origin of appellation
1400–50; late Middle English appelacion < Old French < Latin appellātiōn- (stem of appellātiō ) a naming, equivalent to appellāt ( us ) ( appellate ) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
Appellation means the name or title by which someone is known. Mark Twain is the famous appellation by which everyone remembers author and humorist Samuel Clemens. An appellation is what people call a person or thing — essentially, its name or title. George Herman Ruth's parents may have known him as George, but the rest of the world knew this famous slugger by his appellation, Babe. If you use the word appellation in a discussion of wine, you'd mean the name of the region or vineyard where the wine originated. Champagne is an appellation for the bubbly white wine that comes from the Champagne region of France.
Vocabulary lists containing appellation
"What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" by Frederick Douglass
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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
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Wuthering Heights
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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.
A French wine maker has hailed the impact of his Sancerre appearing in Taylor Swift's latest documentary which looks set to deepen America's love affair with the famed Loire appellation.
From Barron's • Jan. 6, 2026
This red blend of Frappato and Nero d’Avola from the sprawling Cerasuolo di Vittoria appellation in southern Sicily can be consumed right away and is wonderfully food-friendly.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025
“My name is Austin Richard Post,” he said, dropping his government appellation.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2024
That appellation would imply that the reptiles are likely to attack without provocation.
From Science Magazine • Apr. 3, 2024
From that unfortunate expression came the appellation of Widge, which stuck to me for years, like pitch.
From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood
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.
