appointee

noun

ap·​poin·​tee ə-ˌpȯin-ˈtē 

ˌa-

1

: one who is appointed

2

: one to whom an estate is appointed

Synonyms of appointee

• nominee
• candidate

Examples of appointee in a Sentence

the announcement of the presidential appointees to the cabinet

Recent Examples on the Web

Scientists across multiple disciplines are sounding the alarm after the White House proposed taking greater control over how scientific research gets funded and allowing political appointees to decide whether to approve scientific grants. —Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 4 June 2026

The federal government currently has about 4,000 political appointees who serve at the pleasure of the president. —Andrea Hsu, NPR, 3 June 2026

The Missouri Supreme Court is already dominated by the appointees of Republican governors. —Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026

Besides, the Senate, which has already been slow to confirm some appointees, is currently gummed up on other business. —David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 2 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for appointee

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy

Kids Definition

appointee

noun

ap·​poin·​tee ə-ˌpȯin-ˈtē 

ˌa-ˌpȯin-

: a person appointed to a position or an office

Legal Definition

appointee

noun

ap·​poin·​tee ə-ˌpȯin-ˈtē, ˌa- 

1

: a person who is appointed to a position

2

: a person to whom property is appointed under a power of appointment