destination

American  

[des-tuh-ney-shuhn] / ˌdɛs təˈneɪ ʃən /

noun

• destinations
  plural

1. the place to which a person or thing travels or is sent.

   Her destination was Rome.

2. the purpose for which something is destined.

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adjective

1. noting an attraction or event that people are willing to travel a long distance to get to, either because it is very good or distinctive or because it is located in a popular and interesting place.

   destination restaurants and resorts;

   a destination wedding in the Caribbean.

destination British  

/ ˌdɛstɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. the predetermined end of a journey or voyage

2. the ultimate end or purpose for which something is created or a person is destined

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• multidestination
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• destinations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of destination

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin dēstinātiōn-, stem of dēstinātiō “establishment, purpose,” from dēstināt(us) “established” (past participle of dēstināre “to determine, establish”; see destine) + -iō -ion

Explanation

Destination can describe where you are going, like a traveler whose destination is Paris, or a place that is known for a particular purpose, such as a hip new music club that's a destination for fans of indie rock. The noun destination comes from the Latin word destinare, meaning "determine, appoint, choose, make firm or fast." If you choose a destination, that's where you intend to end up, the "finish line" or goal that you keep in mind, like a friend's house that is the destination of a walk that might be interrupted a number of times, as you stop in stores along the way and pause to talk to the people you meet.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

destination destinations

Aston Villa are likely not seen as a first-choice destination.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Hera is currently traveling toward its main destination, the asteroid moon Dimorphos.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026

Tennessee is the company’s preferred destination, people familiar with its thinking have said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

Macron on X hailed the "unprecedented announcement", saying the attractions would be a "new global destination".

From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026

It doesn’t take long to reach our destination, but my heart is beating like I just ran a field lap for the whole ride.

From "Fast Pitch" by Nic Stone

“It’s no longer about sightseeing or checking destinations off a list. It is about preserving meaningful experiences with family and friends while minimizing stress.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

For the last two weeks, a little bird with big feet has turned a 320-acre marsh in Irvine into one of the hottest birding destinations in Southern California.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

Amsterdam, Dublin and Palma de Mallorca were the most popular passenger destinations, followed by Alicante, Malaga and Paris.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

“Long-distance travel, particularly to unfamiliar destinations, often requires planning, navigation and adapting to new environments, all of which involve greater decision-making and problem-solving than traveling to familiar or nearby places,” Cole says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

It was a yellowing, brittle, classroom-size map of the United States printed thick with potential destinations.

From "Paper Towns" by John Green

Related Words

• harbor
• haven
• station
• stop
• target
• terminal