appointment

American  

[uh-point-muhnt] / əˈpɔɪnt mənt /

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.

8. Archaic. decree; ordinance.

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appointment British  

/ 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

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appointment Idioms  

1. see make an appointment.

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Related Words

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.

Other Word Forms

• proappointment adjective
• reappointment noun

Etymology

Origin of appointment

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

Example Sentences

The app is being used to confirm the drinking age of users at supermarkets, book doctors’ appointments and enter museums.

From The Wall Street Journal

Patients in greater Lincolnshire are being warned of cancelled appointments when hospital doctors go on strike for six days in a pay dispute.

From BBC

Applicants drop in without appointments and wait in two rows of plastic chairs for their names to be called.

From Los Angeles Times

United's stance remains they do not want to be bounced into an appointment, and will take their time reaching a decision.

From BBC

After most appointments, my mom would pull her van into the Starbucks parking lot in the shopping center next door.

From Salon

Related Words

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