designate

[dez-ig-neyt, dez-ig-nit, -neyt]

verb (used with object)

designated, designating 

1. to mark or point out; indicate; show; specify.

2. to denote; indicate; signify.

3. to name; entitle; style.

4. to nominate or select for a duty, office, purpose, etc.; appoint; assign.

adjective

1. named or selected for an office, position, etc., but not yet installed (often used in combination following the noun it modifies).

   ambassador-designate.

designate

/ ˌdɛzɪɡˈneɪtrɪ /

verb

1. to indicate or specify

2. to give a name to; style; entitle

3. to select or name for an office or duty; appoint

adjective

1. (immediately postpositive) appointed, but not yet in office

   a minister designate

Other Word Forms

• designative adjective
• designatory adjective
• designator noun
• dedesignate verb (used with object)
• nondesignate adjective
• nondesignative adjective
• redesignate verb (used with object)
• undesignated adjective
• undesignative adjective
• well-designated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of designate¹

1640–50; < Latin dēsignātus, past participle of dēsignāre. See design, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of designate¹

C15: from Latin dēsignātus marked out, defined; see _design

Example Sentences

And on Monday the White House officially designated Maduro as a member of an international terrorist group.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It is a designated national nature reserve, made up of sand dunes and forests, where projects are already under way to improve the environment.

Read more on BBC

His executive order on Monday calls for his top aides to produce a report investigating whether the branches in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan should be listed as foreign terrorist organisations and specially designated global terrorists.

Read more on BBC

Reiterating that the conflict was "a war for survival", he insisted that any peace agreement must compel the RSF to withdraw fully from captured territory and be confined to designated zones.

Read more on Barron's

Goodwill operates as 150 autonomous organizations across North America, each responsible for designated geographic areas and run by their own CEOs and boards of directors.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• allocate 
• allot 
• appoint 
• appropriate 
• assign 
• authorize 
• choose 
• define 
• describe 
• earmark 
• elect 
• mark 
• name 
• nominate 
• set aside 
• stipulate