assignment

noun

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as·sign·ment | \ ə-ˈsīn-mənt

Definition of assignment

1 : the act of assigning something the assignment of a task

2a : a position, post, or office to which one is assigned Her assignment was to the embassy in India.

b : a specified task or amount of work assigned or undertaken as if assigned by authority a homework assignment

3 law : the transfer of property especially : the transfer of property to be held in trust or to be used for the benefit of creditors

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing assignment Learn More About assignment

Choose the Right Synonym for assignment

task, duty, job, chore, stint, assignment mean a piece of work to be done. task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance. charged with a variety of tasks duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance. the duties of a lifeguard job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance. the job of turning the company around chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm. every child was assigned chores stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service. a 2-month stint as a reporter assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority. a reporter's assignment

Examples of assignment in a Sentence

The students were given a homework assignment. The reporter's assignment is to interview the candidate. The reporter is here on an assignment. The reporter is here on assignment. The article discusses the recent assignment of senators to some of the more powerful committees. her assignment to the embassy in India the computer's assignment of a number to each image She asked if she could change her seating assignment. See More

Recent Examples on the Web He will be paired with veteran Manny Machado and fellow rising star Fernando Tatis Jr., who started a rehabilitation assignment over the weekend. — Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2022 On Saturday Reyes was designated for assignment and Bradley was released from Class AAA Columbus. — Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 6 Aug. 2022 This follows an assignment given a few weeks ago as chair of the brand-new Chaplain Advisory Committee, dedicated to mentoring, advocating for and training Latter-day Saint chaplains. — Tamarra Kemsley, The Salt Lake Tribune, 5 Aug. 2022 Federal courts make their own rules regarding assignment of judges to cases. — Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022 On Friday, the organization applauded the decision to rescind Silva’s assignment and joined in the call for an independent investigation. — Amanda Milkovits, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Aug. 2022 In a nearby English classroom, several students had their notebooks open to an assignment about appreciating the opportunities before them. — Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2022 If Pitt's world-weary character just wants to complete the assignment and disembark, others harbor more personal motives. — Brian Lowry, CNN, 2 Aug. 2022 Kim has been at Channel 4 since 1994, when she was hired as a reporter and weekend assignment editor. — Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2022 See More

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

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Last Updated

12 Aug 2022

Cite this Entry

“Assignment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assignment. Accessed 12 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for assignment

assignment

noun

as·sign·ment | \ ə-ˈsīn-mənt

Kids Definition of assignment

1 : the act of giving out or assigning the assignment of seats

2 : something (as a job or task) that is given out … I struggled with some of the reading quizzes and writing assignments.— John David Anderson, Ms. Bixby's Last Day

assignment

noun

as·sign·ment

Legal Definition of assignment

1 : the act of assigning

2a : a position, post, or office to which one is assigned

b : a task assigned

3 : a present transfer of property or rights

— absolute assignment

: an assignment in which the transfer is complete and leaves the assignor with no interest in the property or right transferred

— assignment for the benefit of creditors

: assignment of property by a debtor to an assignee to be held in trust and used to pay off the debtor's debts

— assignment of income

: an assignment by one taxpayer to another of income for the purpose of avoiding taxes

— assignment of lease

: an assignment by a tenant of all of his or her remaining rights in a property under a lease — compare sublease

— effective assignment

: an assignment by which the assignor's interest in the property or right being assigned is terminated and transferred to the assignee

— equitable assignment

: an assignment (as of property in which one has a future interest) that is not valid at law but that would be upheld in a court of equity

— general assignment

: an assignment for the benefit of creditors of all of a debtor's property to be distributed fairly to the creditors — compare preference

— wage assignment

: an assignment by an employee by which an amount of his or her wages are transferred to another party (as a creditor) before the wages are paid to the employee — compare garnishment