designation

[dez-ig-ney-shuhn]

noun

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.

designation

/ ˌdɛzɪɡˈneɪʃən /

noun

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

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

Other Word Forms

• dedesignation noun
• redesignation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of designation¹

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

Example Sentences

The 'heat hazard' designation has come into play only because the rule was introduced this year.

From BBC

The report did cite communication breakdowns, unclear designation of responsibilities, insufficient resources and chaotic conditions as factors in the lapses, while providing recommendations for how to address those big picture shortcomings in the future.

From Los Angeles Times

The White House officially labeled “antifa,” a loose affiliation of far-left extremists, as “domestic terrorists” — a designation with no basis in U.S. law — posing a direct challenge to free speech protections.

From Los Angeles Times

A senior Department of Homeland Security official told CBS that the memorial service has the same security designation as high-profile events such as the Super Bowl.

From BBC

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services stripped it of its “critical access” status — a special designation given to qualifying rural hospitals — causing it to lose 40% of its revenue.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• classification 
• description 
• moniker 
• nickname