designation

[ dez-ig-ney-shuhn ]

noun

1. an act of designating.
2. the fact of being designated.
3. something that designates; a distinctive name or title; appellation.
4. nomination, appointment, or election to an office, position, etc.:

   His designation as treasurer has been confirmed.

designation

/ ˌdɛzɪɡˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. something that designates, such as a name or distinctive mark
2. the act of designating or the fact of being designated

Other Word Forms

• dedes·ig·nation noun
• redes·ig·nation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of designation¹

1350–1400; Middle English designacioun < Latin dēsignātiōn- (stem of dēsignātiō ) a marking out, equivalent to dēsignāt ( us ) ( designate ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

My house and car have been registered with “transfer on death” designations.

From Los Angeles Times

The Trump administration has rolled back environmental protections related to future logging projects in more than half of national forests under an emergency designation issued Friday that cites the dangers of wildfires.

From Los Angeles Times

Many in Mexico viewed the designation as moving the United States toward its first military strike on neighboring Mexico in more than a century.

From Los Angeles Times

They include undergraduates, graduates and people on student visas as part of “optional practical training,” a designation employed after graduation that gives temporary visa extensions to allow students to get job experience.

From Los Angeles Times

The cycle lane's construction and the designation of Gorsey Lane as a one-way street has meant cars on Dunham Road now have to drive an extra half mile to access the church car park.

From BBC

Related Words

• classification
• description
• moniker
• nickname