denomination

[ dih-nom-uh-ney-shuhn ]

noun

1. a religious group, usually including many local churches, often larger than a sect:

   the Lutheran denomination.

2. one of the grades or degrees in a series of designations of quantity, value, measure, weight, etc.:

   He paid $500 in bills of small denomination.

3. a name or designation, especially one for a class of things.
4. a class or kind of persons or things distinguished by a specific name.
5. the act of naming or designating a person or thing.

denomination

/ dɪˌnɒmɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. a group having a distinctive interpretation of a religious faith and usually its own organization
2. a grade or unit in a series of designations of value, weight, measure, etc

   coins of this denomination are being withdrawn

3. a name given to a class or group; classification
4. the act of giving a name
5. a name; designation

Derived Forms

• deˌnomiˈnational, adjective
• deˌnomiˈnationally, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of denomination¹

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English denominacioun “name, designation; act of naming or designating,” from Latin dēnōminātiōn- (stem of dēnōminātiō “calling something by other than its proper name, substitution, metonymy,” equivalent to dēnōmināt(us) + -iōn-; denominate, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of denomination¹

C15: from Latin dēnōminātiō a calling by name; see denominate

Example Sentences

Recueil des loix constitutives des colonies anglaises, confédérées sous la dénomination d'États-Unis de l'Amérique-Septentrionale.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• church
• creed
• cult
• faith
• persuasion
• religion
• sect