designate

[ verb dez-ig-neyt; adjective dez-ig-nit, -neyt ]

verb (used with object)

, des·ig·nat·ed, des·ig·nat·ing.

1. to mark or point out; indicate; show; specify.
2. to denote; indicate; signify.
3. to name; entitle; style.
4. to nominate or select for a duty, office, purpose, etc.; appoint; assign.

adjective

1. named or selected for an office, position, etc., but not yet installed (often used in combination following the noun it modifies):

   ambassador-designate.

designate

/ ˌdɛzɪɡˈneɪtrɪ /

verb

1. to indicate or specify
2. to give a name to; style; entitle
3. to select or name for an office or duty; appoint

adjective

1. immediately postpositive appointed, but not yet in office

   a minister designate

Derived Forms

• ˈdesigˌnator, noun
• ˈdesigˌnative, adjective

Other Words From

• desig·native des·ig·na·to·ry [dez, -ig-n, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, dez-ig-, ney, -t, uh, -ree], adjective
• desig·nator noun
• de·desig·nate verb (used with object) dedesignated dedesignating
• non·desig·nate adjective
• non·desig·native adjective
• re·desig·nate verb (used with object) redesignated redesignating
• un·desig·nated adjective
• un·desig·native adjective
• well-desig·nated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of designate¹

1640–50; < Latin dēsignātus, past participle of dēsignāre. See design, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of designate¹

C15: from Latin dēsignātus marked out, defined; see design

Example Sentences

Since there may not be settlers available to move into a cleared-out area at a given moment, such areas are often designated as "state land" or "nature reserves" and reserved for future use.

From Salon

Biden has designated six monuments and expanded four, including enlarging the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument near Los Angeles by nearly a third earlier this year.

From Los Angeles Times

The PKK is designated as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU, the UK and the US.

From BBC

In NSYNC, Bass was designated to portray the shy member archetype.

From Salon

The designated businesses changed regularly, and by late in the day they sometimes turned people away.

From New York Times

Related Words

• allocate
• allot
• appoint
• appropriate
• assign
• authorize
• choose
• define
• describe
• earmark
• elect
• mark
• name
• nominate
• set aside
• stipulate