designation
Americannoun
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an act of designating.
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the fact of being designated.
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something that designates; a distinctive name or title; appellation.
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nomination, appointment, or election to an office, position, etc..
His designation as treasurer has been confirmed.
noun
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something that designates, such as a name or distinctive mark
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the act of designating or the fact of being designated
Other Word Forms
- dedesignation noun
- redesignation noun
Etymology
Origin of designation
1350–1400; Middle English designacioun < Latin dēsignātiōn- (stem of dēsignātiō ) a marking out, equivalent to dēsignāt ( us ) ( designate ) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
When something has a designation, it has a title or a description that helps you identify it. The “organic” designation on the vegetables you buy lets you know that no pesticides were used in growing the plants. Designation can refer to a title, official or otherwise. You may earn the designation “class clown” for your goofiness, or ask your friends to refer to you by the designation, "Madame Super Brain." Designation is also the act of assigning such a title or position, like the designation of your daughter as heir to your estate. Often, designation refers to giving a formal position. The district board may be responsible for the designation of the next principal at your school.
Vocabulary lists containing designation
47 Great Words from "The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao," by Junot Diaz
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50 Great Words from "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," by Jonathan Safran-Foer
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Auggie & Me
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A Treasury designation is meant to prevent a company from being used to acquire restricted goods.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026
BofA analyst Michael McGovern downgraded Carvana to a Neutral rating, down from his previous Buy designation, and cut his price target to $360 from $400.
From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026
“Perhaps a historic-cultural monument designation could have saved the Zimmerman House, or allowed the necessary time to delay demolition. Tragically, calls for preservation fell on deaf ears.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026
This designation means that universities will reinvest any leftover funds after expenses – they don’t use the word “profit” – into programs that advance the university’s mission.
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
Its designation was S14A316, but I’d renamed it Falco, after the Austrian rap star.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
