appointed
Americanadjective
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by, through, or as a result of an appointment (often in contrast withelected ).
an appointed official.
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predetermined; arranged; set.
They met at the appointed time in the appointed place.
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provided with what is necessary; equipped; furnished.
a beautifully appointed office.
Synonym Usage
See furnish.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of appointed
Explanation
To be appointed is to be given a task or job. If you're appointed as the week's doughnut fetcher at work, it means you've been assigned the job of bringing treats for everyone. You might be appointed for a small duty or for a large promotion, as when the gym teacher at school is unexpectedly appointed principal. Another way to use the adjective appointed is to mean "well furnished." Lovely homes and fancy hotels are often described as "well appointed" or "luxuriously appointed.
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.
Appointed by the U.S. president, they traditionally serve six-year terms.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026
Appointed by George W. Bush, Judge Leon is no activist liberal, but he doesn’t mince words when he sees an abuse of the law.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026
Appointed by Franco to succeed him, Juan Carlos was widely credited with helping steer Spain to democracy after the fascist dictator's death in 1975.
From Barron's • Nov. 5, 2025
Appointed two months ago to focus on phone theft at the Met, Cdr Andy Featherstone said the force's revised strategy, which involves targeting organised crime, was making a difference.
From BBC • Oct. 20, 2025
Appointed Muslim Sisters quickly passed small trays from which everyone took a thin, round patty of peppermint candy.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
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.
