nominate

[verb nom-uh-neyt; adjective nom-uh-nit]

verb (used with object), nom·i·nat·ed, nom·i·nat·ing.

to propose (someone) for appointment or election to an office.

to appoint to a duty or office.

to propose for an honor, award, or the like.

Horse Racing. to register (a horse) as an entry in a race.

to name; designate.

Obsolete. to specify.

adjective

having a particular name.

Origin of nominate

1475–85; < Latin nōminātus (past participle of nōmināre to name, call by name), equivalent to nōmin- (stem of nōmen; see nomen) + -ātus -ate¹

Related formsnom·i·na·tor, nounre·nom·i·nate, verb (used with object), re·nom·i·nat·ed, re·nom·i·nat·ing.un·nom·i·nat·ed, adjective

Synonyms for nominate

1. pick, choose.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for nominator

nominate

verb (ˈnɒmɪˌneɪt) (mainly tr)

to propose as a candidate, esp for an elective office

to appoint to an office or position

to name (someone) to act on one's behalf, esp to conceal one's identity

(intr) Australian to stand as a candidate in an election

archaic to name, entitle, or designate

adjective (ˈnɒmɪnɪt)

rare having a particular name

Derived Formsnominator, noun

Word Origin for nominate

C16: from Latin nōmināre to call by name, from nōmen name

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for nominator

1650s, from Late Latin nominator, from Latin nominat-, past participle stem of nominare (see nominate).

nominate

1540s, "to call by name," back-formation from nomination or else from Latin nominatus, past participle of nominare "to name, call by name, give a name to," also "name for office,"" from nomen "name" (see name (n.)). Later "to appoint to some office or duty" (1560s); "to formally enter (someone) as a candidate for election" (c.1600). It also occasionally was used from c.1600 with a sense "give a name to." Related: Nominated; nominating.