Definition of APPELLATION

Did You Know?

Ask a Frenchman named "Jacques" his name, and you may very well get the reply, "Je m'appelle Jacques." The French verb appeller means "to call (by a name)," so Jacques' answer literally translates to "I call myself Jacques." Knowing the function of "appeller" makes it easy to remember that "appellation" refers to the name or title by which something is called or known. "Appeller" and "appellation" also share a common ancestor - the Latin appellare, meaning "to call or summon," formed by combining the prefix ad- ("to") with another verb, "pellere" ("to drive"). "Appellare" is also the root of our word appeal (by way of Anglo-French and Middle English), as well as "appellate," referring to a kind of court where appeals are heard.

Examples of appellation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sauvignon blanc finds its spiritual home in France’s Loire Valley, especially in the prestigious appellation of Sancerre. — Dave Mcintyre, The Seattle Times, "These sauvignon blancs taste more expensive than they are," 6 Aug. 2018 However, not all of their future children may receive the same appellation. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "What Royal Titles Will Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Kids Have?," 15 Oct. 2018 Bruno is especially keen on Cuvee Grand Millesimes by Chateau de Tiregand, a genuine estate in the sub-appellation Pecharmant just east of the city of Bergerac. — Mike Dunne, sacbee, "A French wine mystery: Where's the Bergerac?," 6 June 2018 Today the appellation is archaic; only the final clubs remain. — William Stadiem, Town & Country, "Can Harvard's Storied Final Clubs Resist the Tides of Change?," 2 Aug. 2016 Two of the bottles carried the appellation Bourgogne Aligoté, a reminder that the Burgundians themselves have deemed aligoté unworthy of carrying a more specific designation of place. — Eric Asimov, New York Times, "The Aligoté Defense Rests," 28 June 2018 Less celebrated villages such as Maranges, Marsannay and Irancy, and the auxiliary appellations of the Côte Chalonnaise, are also becoming pricey: Bottles that were once $20-$35 are now $45-$60. — Patrick Comiskey, latimes.com, "Alternatives to Burgundy, from Burgundy," 29 June 2018 Cassis, a diminutive coastal appellation southeast of Marseille, is the only AOC in Provence to produce mainly white wine. — Ellen Bhang, BostonGlobe.com, "These Provençal pours are not the rosé you expect," 28 May 2018 The official appellation, Viños de Madrid, encompasses three provinces with widely differing climate and geology. — New York Times, "Reviving Ancient Spanish Vineyards, Building New Traditions," 24 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'appellation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.