assignment

noun

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

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Synonyms for assignment

Synonyms

chore, duty, job, task

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the former gubernatorial candidate has also accepted an assignment that’s tailor-made for second-guessing. — Tamar Hallerman, The Seattle Times, "‘Terrified’ Stacey Abrams prepares to counterpunch Trump’s State of Union," 5 Feb. 2019 He was given an administrative assignment, and his state police car, a Chevrolet Impala, was taken from him. — Christine Dempsey, courant.com, "Trooper On Desk Duty After Arrest, State Police Say," 7 June 2018 And yet after my first night in my fancy new bed, the assignment is already getting to me. — Rebecca Jennings, Vox, "I used all the best stuff for a week and it nearly broke me," 12 Dec. 2018 Her response to the assignment was markedly different than that of her classmates, but the experience introduced her to a like-minded audience. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, "Why Fashion Needs Disability Activist Sinéad Burke," 5 Sep. 2018 The fastest way to boost his career in that field was to volunteer for overseas assignments. — Phil Blair, sandiegouniontribune.com, "The more people I talked to, the richer I became," 18 June 2018 The law foresees the creation of a National Agency for Research and Development that will replace CONICYT, and a group of eight external advisers to counsel the government on the assignment of science funding. — Tania Rabesandratana, Science | AAAS, "Chile, keen to become a knowledge society, creates a ministry of science," 6 June 2018 As for the seat assignments, customers can modify their assigned seat any time prior to boarding via Amtrak.com, Amtrak’s mobile app or with a ticket agent. — Nancy Trejos, USA TODAY, "Amtrak now offering assigned seating on Acela first class," 30 May 2018 So rather than open with a traditional starting pitcher on the mound, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash tapped Sergio Romo for back-to-back assignments starting games Saturday and Sunday. — Ted Berg, For The Win, "An Angels player called the Rays' smart strategy 'bad for baseball,' but he's wrong," 21 May 2018

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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Dictionary Entries near assignment

Statistics for assignment

Last Updated

8 May 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for assignment

The first known use of assignment was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for assignment

wage assignment

noun

Financial Definition of wage assignment

What It Is

A wage assignment refers to a forced payment of a financial obligation via automatic withholding from an employee's pay.

How It Works

Courts can subject individuals who become delinquent in their obligations to wage assignments. In most cases, wage assignments are ordered when a person is delinquent on child support, spousal support, taxes or loans. If the obligor shows a history of nonpayment, a wage assignment can be used to automatically subtract money owed from his or her payroll without his or her consent. For example, if an individual becomes delinquent on $100 monthly loan payments, a wage assignment automatically deducts the $100 from the person's weekly or monthly paycheck and sends it to the lender.

Why It Matters

Wage assignments are frequently ordered in connection with delinquent child support payments and merchant credit balances. Though unlawful in certain U.S. states, wage assignments can be a useful, proactive method for recouping long-term unpaid debts.

Source: Investing Answers

assignment

noun

English Language Learners Definition of assignment

: a job or duty that is given to someone : a task someone is required to do

: the act of sending someone to a particular group or place as part of a job

: the act of giving a particular value, identity, etc., to something

See the full definition for assignment in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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 a homework assignment

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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