ascription

noun

as·crip·tion | \ ə-ˈskrip-shən

\

Definition of ascription

1 : the act of ascribing : attribution

2 : arbitrary placement (as at birth) in a particular social status

Examples of ascription in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Even if its intent were innocuous — to address inaccurate ascriptions to the Polish state for participating in an official capacity in Nazi crimes — the impact of this type of legislation is dangerous. — Steny Hoyer, Time, "Reps. Hoyer, Price and Schneider: Poland’s Censorship Law Ignores Its History and Undermines Its Future," 15 Mar. 2018 Black women who posit a feminism that exists for a purpose greater than the liberation of a single individual or gender ascription. — Tunde Wey, San Francisco Chronicle, "Black women are the future of the food industry," 15 Dec. 2017

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about ascription

Dictionary Entries near ascription

ascribe (something) to

Statistics for ascription

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for ascription

The first known use of ascription was in 1598

See more words from the same year

Comments on ascription

What made you want to look up ascription? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

prestigious

esteemed in general opinion

Test Your Vocabulary

What did you just call me?! A Quiz

If a member of the audience describes your speech as bombastic, does that person mean it is:

rousing and inspiring pompous and overblown

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games