annotation

noun

an·​no·​ta·​tion ˌa-nə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: a note added by way of comment or explanation

The bibliography was provided with helpful annotations.

2

: the act of annotating something

Examples of annotation in a Sentence

Without the annotations, the diagram would be hard to understand.

the author's annotation of the diagram

Recent Examples on the Web

As part of the deal, Meta will take a 49% stake in the data-labelling and annotation startup, The Information reported, while Wang will help lead a new AI research lab at the social networking company and will be joined by some of his colleagues. —Jonathan Vanian,ashley Capoot, CNBC, 10 June 2025

Here’s what nobody talks about: temporal context in data annotation. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025

The second set of annotations stated that Franklin had died just a few weeks after the first note was written, and a total of 24 officers and crew members had perished to date—a staggeringly high number for a Royal Navy expedition. —Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025

Bush, who oversaw America’s research efforts during World War II, imagined a system that would allow researchers to see all relevant annotations others had made on a document. —Mike Caulfield, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

see annotate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for annotation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

annotation

noun

an·​no·​ta·​tion ˌan-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act of annotating

2

: a note added as a comment or explanation

Legal Definition

annotation

noun

an·​no·​ta·​tion ˌa-nə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: a note added (as to a statute) by way of comment or explanation often furnishing summaries of relevant court decisions

2

capitalized : an informational and descriptive note or essay (as about a case or legal issue) especially in American Law Reports