destination

American  

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

noun

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

• multidestination
  adjective

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

I checked in for two nights to size up this budget option in a destination where the average daily hotel-room rate topped $280 in 2025, according to CoStar.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

From Argentina it was onto the British territory of South Georgia, a world-renowned wildlife destination famous for its penguin colonies, and then Tristan da Cunha, the remotest inhabited island in the world.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

And even when Hormuz reopens, it will take some time before prices stabilize and crude barrels arrive at their destination.

From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026

A Delta Air Lines flight got a surprise passenger when a pregnant woman on board gave birth before the plane arrived at its final destination, the US airline said Monday.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

By the time they got to their destination, it was so dark they couldn’t see the front lines or even the airfield itself.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

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