appointment

[ uh-point-muhnt ]

noun

1. a fixed mutual agreement for a meeting; engagement:

   We made an appointment to meet again.

   Synonyms: date, tryst, rendezvous, assignation

2. a meeting set for a specific time or place:

   I'm late for my appointment.

   Synonyms: date, tryst, rendezvous, assignation

3. the act of appointing, designating, or placing in office:

   to fill a vacancy by appointment.

4. an office, position, or the like, to which a person is appointed:

   He received his appointment as ambassador to Italy.

5. Usually appointments. equipment, furnishings, or accouterments.
6. appointments, accouterments for a soldier or a horse.
7. Manège. a horse-show class in which the contestant need not be a member of a hunt but must wear regulation hunt livery. Compare Corinthian ( def 9 ).
8. Archaic. decree; ordinance.

appointment

/ əˈpɔɪntmənt /

noun

1. an arrangement to meet a person or be at a place at a certain time
2. the act of placing in a job or position
3. the person who receives such a job or position
4. the job or position to which such a person is appointed
5. usually plural a fixture or fitting
6. property law nomination to an interest in property under a deed or will

Other Words From

• proap·pointment adjective
• reap·pointment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of appointment¹

1375–1425; late Middle English apoynt ( e ) ment < Middle French ap ( p ) ointement. See appoint, -ment

Idioms and Phrases

see make an appointment .

Synonym Study

Appointment, office, post, station all refer to kinds of duty or employment. Appointment refers to a position to which one is assigned, as by a high government official. Office often suggests a position of trust or authority. Post is usually restricted to a military or other public position, as of a diplomat, although it may also refer to a teaching position. Both post and station may refer to the place where a person is assigned to work.

Example Sentences

The morning of the Camp fire, he had a doctor’s appointment in Chico and left his home in Paradise before the town was engulfed.

From Los Angeles Times

A review into appointments to government jobs has concluded it is "largely satisfied" with the processes in place.

From BBC

Educators are reeling at McMahon’s appointment, fearing that she will have a detrimental impact on students across the country.

From Salon

As the longtime CEO of the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, Lutnick is at least experienced at running a large organization so that appointment makes some sense.

From Salon

Speaking about her appointment earlier this month, Dame Jasvinder Sanghera said she had been contacted by a former pupil from a school for deaf children.

From BBC

Related Words

• approval
• certification
• choice
• designation
• election
• nomination
• selection