nomination
Americannoun
-
an act or instance of nominating, especially to office.
The floor is open for nomination of candidates for the presidency.
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the state of being nominated.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of nomination
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin nōminātiōn- (stem of nōminātiō ) a naming, nomination. See nominate, -ion
Explanation
The first step in the process of electing a candidate for office or giving someone an award is nomination. When someone is officially recommended as a contender, that's their nomination. Your nomination for Best Animated Film in a film festival means that you're one of the directors who will be up for the award. A nomination is a huge honor in itself, because it means you've been chosen to be on a short list of possible winners. During presidential elections, major party nominations are usually made after a primary election — the party's nomination is its official endorsement of a candidate. The Latin root, nominationem, means "a naming."
Vocabulary lists containing nomination
Election Lingo
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Academy Awards, List 1
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Citizenship (Civics) - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It was about the state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who would go on to win the Republican nomination for the U.S.
From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026
Three years later she gladly accepted her nomination as rear commodore.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
It was a measure of revenge for Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, who was defeated by Talarico for the Democratic Senate nomination in March.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
Faye has to name another prime minister to replace Sonko -- and that choice will have to be approved by parliament within three months of his nomination, said Ndiaye.
From Barron's • May 24, 2026
One oilman from Oklahoma told a friend that Harding’s nomination had cost him and his interests $1 million.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
