designation

American  

[dez-ig-ney-shuhn] / ˌdɛz ɪgˈneɪ ʃən /

noun

• designations
  plural

1. an act of designating.

2. the fact of being designated.

3. something that designates; a distinctive name or title; appellation.

4. nomination, appointment, or election to an office, position, etc..

   His designation as treasurer has been confirmed.

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designation British  

/ ˌdɛzɪɡˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. something that designates, such as a name or distinctive mark

2. the act of designating or the fact of being designated

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• dedesignation
  noun
• redesignation
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• designations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of designation

1350–1400; Middle English designacioun < Latin dēsignātiōn- (stem of dēsignātiō ) a marking out, equivalent to dēsignāt ( us ) ( see 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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

designation designations

Neither do they appear motivated to acquire pieces that bear no relationship to each other besides the designation “masterpiece.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

AD109 has received Fast Track designation from the FDA for the treatment of OSA, reflecting the need for effective and well-tolerated drug therapies for the condition.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 1, 2026

The company argued in the lawsuit that Defense Secretary Pete Hegeth overstepped his authority with the new designation.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

That court has been less receptive to Anthropic’s arguments and in April denied the company’s request for relief from aspects of the designation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

There was a pair of silver-backed brushes his mother had given him when he was sixteen, engraved with his initials, the abbreviated degree designation of a doctor.

From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison

But these designations do not overcome the environmental hurdles.

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

Even if properly implemented, these terrorism designations won’t magically defeat Islamism.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

You have wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, long-term care insurance, organized records for your executor, and mutually agreed-upon beneficiary designations.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

Make sure to update your beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, healthcare directives and will.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

Lyell originally intended to employ "–synchronous" for his endings, giving us such crunchy designations as Meiosynchronous and Pleiosynchronous.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• classification
• description
• moniker
• nickname