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

But critics say that if the rule is implemented, the final sign-off for grants will no longer be in the hands of subject-matter experts within individual agencies, but in those of political appointees. — Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

This rewrite of 2 CFR Part 200 grants political appointees unprecedented control over federal grantmaking, sidelining peer review. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

Gupta’s view is not shared by Christina Smyth, another Adams appointee who resigned from the board shortly before the vote. — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026

There seemed to be a push-pull between career ICE staff and political appointees, the DHS official told the news organizations. — Perla Trevizo, ProPublica, 3 July 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