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

Though he had been in the civil service for more than two years, a recent promotion designated him as a probationary worker—a category of staff among the first targeted for layoffs.

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Defense lawyers say none of the accused has a known criminal record or connections to designated terrorist groups.

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Early on, they fell prey to fraudulent land deals, followed by colonial decrees between 1905 and 1913 that designated significant portions of their territory as state property and restricted their landownership rights.

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Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, holds about 20 living hostages and the bodies of around 28 others.

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In 2012 the party was targeted by loyalists after it supported a move to only display the union flag at Belfast City Hall on designated days.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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