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

A less expensive school that offers a partial athletic scholarship, or a transfer after two years, can all lead her to the same destination.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

Port Kaituma is inland in the oil-rich Essequibo region, and the ferry travels along the coast in the Atlantic before heading upriver to reach its jungle destination.

From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026

Mr. de la Espriella wants to make Colombia a destination for investment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

The checks never reached their destination and were deposited into a JPMorgan Chase account not associated with any of the intended recipients, the Justice Department said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

It is too late an hour for their destination to be the theater or the ballet.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

“Together we will build creative experiences for our consumers across our destinations, platforms, and fan touchpoints,” Becca Vodnoy, Walt Disney Co. senior vice president of corporate alliances, said in the statement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

The UK government recently launched its own awareness campaign and added warnings for 29 destinations including Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam on their official travel advice pages.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

That will leave only about 138 more destinations in the book to cover.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

On social media, people have gotten even more creative, photoshopping capybaras into Southampton destinations like pubs, shopping malls and the local soccer club’s stadium.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Like travelers with exotic destinations on their minds, the graduates were remarkably forgetful.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

Related Words

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