denomination

American  

[dih-nom-uh-ney-shuhn] / dɪˌnɒm əˈneɪ ʃən /

noun

• denominations
  plural

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.

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denomination British  

/ 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   coins of this denomination are being withdrawn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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• denominational
  adjective
• denominationally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• denominations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of denomination

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-; see origin at denominate, -ion

Explanation

A denomination is a way of classifying things — it names the type or value of something. Denomination often refers to money. For example, $20 bills are of the same denomination. When denomination is applied to money, you’ll often hear the terms “lower denomination” or “higher denomination.” If you hand the cashier a $50 bill to pay for your latte, she might ask if you have a bill in a lower denomination — she’s asking for a smaller bill, like a $5 or a $10. Denomination can apply to other things that are categorized by type, such as playing cards or groups within the same religious tradition.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

denomination denominations

Not every denomination is hemorrhaging, but they’re all bleeding.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

Rhodes, raised as a Swedenborgianist — a Christian denomination that emphasizes “divine love” based on the writings of theologian Emanuel Swedenborg — does not outright reject the comparison.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026

In December, the head of Hegseth’s church’s denomination, Doug Wilson, celebrated the secretary as a counterweight to “men with a My-Little-Pony fetish.”

From Salon ● Mar. 13, 2026

Prices range from £18.50 for a £5 denomination coin and £10,535 for a gold £200 denomination coin.

From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2026

Along with two friends, he headed about ten miles away to Geauga Seminary, a school of 250 students run by the Free Will Baptist religious denomination.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

City Councilmembers Imelda Padilla and Heather Hutt also contributed, though in smaller denominations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026

Catholicism is now listed under a single designation under Christianity without similar distinctions of their denominations.

From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026

Runners-up win smaller denominations of cash and prize packages.

From Barron's ● May 29, 2026

Denver International Airport has asked the public for gas and grocery gift cards in $10 and $20 denominations so they can be distributed widely.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 28, 2026

On Sundays, blacks had the choice of more than a dozen churches of various Christian denominations.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield

Related Words

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