assignment

American  

[uh-sahyn-muhnt] / əˈsaɪn mənt /

noun

1. something assigned, as a particular task or duty.

   She completed the assignment and went on to other jobs.

   Synonyms:

   job, obligation

2. a position of responsibility, post of duty, or the like, to which one is appointed.

   He left for his assignment in the Middle East.

   Synonyms:

   job, obligation

3. an act of assigning; appointment.

4. Law.

   1. the transference of a right, interest, or title, or the instrument of transfer.

   2. a transference of property to assignees for the benefit of creditors.

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assignment British  

/ əˈsaɪnmənt /

noun

1. something that has been assigned, such as a mission or task

2. a position or post to which a person is assigned

3. the act of assigning or state of being assigned

4. law

   1. the transfer to another of a right, interest, or title to property, esp personal property

      assignment of a lease

   2. the document effecting such a transfer

   3. the right, interest, or property transferred

5. law (formerly) the transfer, esp by an insolvent debtor, of property in trust for the benefit of his creditors

6. logic a function that associates specific values with each variable in a formal expression

7. history a system (1789–1841) whereby a convict could become the unpaid servant of a freeman

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Related Words

See task.

Other Word Forms

• misassignment noun
• nonassignment noun
• reassignment noun

Etymology

Origin of assignment

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English assignament, from Medieval Latin assignāmentum. See assign, -ment

Example Sentences

Mudavadi also negotiated a deal that allowed Kenyans currently on the front line and "unwilling to continue in the assignment disengaged and freed to travel back home", the foreign ministry said.

From BBC

Embracing AI can feel discordant for a generation that’s been told to stay away from the technology for classroom assignments.

From The Wall Street Journal

David started at Dow Jones in July 2008 and has had a variety of assignments, from markets and stocks to legal cases.

From The Wall Street Journal

In 2020, Justin joined the Washington bureau on temporary assignment to report on the U.S. economy’s struggles in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

From The Wall Street Journal

But, of course, I had no work assignment, having been marked down for transport.

From Literature

Related Words

• appointment
• chore
• drill
• duty
• homework
• job
• position
• post
• practice
• stint