appellation

noun

ap·​pel·​la·​tion ˌa-pə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: an identifying name or title : designation

was entitled to the appellation "doctor"

2

: a geographical name (as of a region, village, or vineyard) under which a winegrower is authorized to identify and market wine

also : the area designated by such a name

3

archaic : the act of calling by a name

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 appeler means "to call (by a name)," so Jacques' answer literally translates to "I call myself Jacques." Knowing the function of appeler makes it easy to remember that appellation refers to the name or title by which something is called or known. Appeler and appellation also share a common ancestor: Latin appellāre, meaning "to call upon, name, or designate," formed by combining the prefix ad- ("to") with another verb, pellere ("to beat against, push, or strike"). Appellāre is also the root of English's appeal (by way of Anglo-French and Middle English), as well as appellate, which is used to indicate a court where appeals are heard.

Synonyms

• moniker
• name
• title
• nomenclature
• designation
• epithet
• nickname

Examples of appellation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Comité records all transactions, track the movement, manages the reserve and protects the appellation against counterfeit products. —Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025

While Italy boasts around 500 native grapes that are made into wine commercially, Sicilian wine production can be summed up with the knowledge of 10 main grapes, most of which are sold by varietal rather than appellation name. —Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 23 June 2025

The Sullivan Estate vineyard is on the valley floor at the northern edge of the Rutherford appellation, where predominantly gravel, sand, and loam soils provide excellent natural drainage and result in reduced vigor and low yields in a good year; 2021’s was reduced by 30 percent. —Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 15 June 2025

Paris favors the kinder appellation: The Holy Trinity. —Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English appellacyon, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French appellacion, borrowed from Latin appellātiōn-, appellātiō "name, designation, noun, appeal," from appellāre "to speak to, address, apply to for support, refer to a higher authority, call upon, name, designate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action; in sense 2 borrowed from French, going back to Middle French — more at appeal entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for appellation

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

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Kids Definition

appellation

noun

ap·​pel·​la·​tion ˌap-ə-ˈlā-shən 

: an identifying or descriptive name or title