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   coins of this denomination are being withdrawn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

Other Word Forms

• denominational adjective
• denominationally 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

Leo’s six-day trip to the Middle East also shows continuity with Francis’ concern for religious outreach, both to the Muslim world and to other Christian denominations, including Eastern Orthodox churches.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Therrien’s generic chapel stands not for any particular denomination or specific religious creed, but simply for the common reality of established doctrine operating throughout daily life.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She said the recent revelations about safeguarding failings in Northern Ireland's biggest Protestant denomination, the Presbyterian Church, showed how "current" the issues were, and that they were "not historical".

Read more on BBC

If it fails, Myanmar faces economic ruin reminiscent of 1987, when dictator Ne Win voided all bank notes in denominations not divisible by his lucky number 9, wiping out citizens’ savings overnight.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He couldn’t see the denominations, but there were several bills.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

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