assignment

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 Learn More about assignment

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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 In 1944, a young artist went on assignment to Cuernavaca, Mexico, to report a story on the town's textiles for Harper's Bazaar. — Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, "Inside the Intricate Silkscreening Process at Tillett Textiles," 11 Jan. 2020 In the absences of Porzingis and Broekhoff, and with rookie Isaiah Roby on assignment in the G-League, two-way-contract player Antonius Cleveland practiced with the Mavericks on Tuesday and could be available against Denver, Carlisle said. — Callie Caplan, Dallas News, "Ryan Broekhoff teaming up with Mavs, NBA to coordinate efforts to help those affected by fires in Australia," 7 Jan. 2020 Read on below for details about Tom's time spent with these amazing, primordial creatures (above, below) while on assignment on Aldabra Atoll, far off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. — National Geographic, "How does this photographer handle giant tortoises?," 3 Jan. 2020 Uzunyol, on assignment far from home, left behind two children. — Adam Carlson, PEOPLE.com, "'88 Days of Hell': The True Story of the Atlanta Olympic Bombing and the Wrongfully Suspected Hero at the Center," 1 Jan. 2020 Castiglione has been a weekend news anchor and general assignment reporter at the station since coming to Boston from Fox 5 in New York in January 2018. — BostonGlobe.com, "Duke Castiglione has been named lead sports anchor at Channel 5, slightly more than four months after longtime anchor Mike Lynch moved into a part-time role in August.," 31 Dec. 2019 Blake jumps on the assignment because his brother is among the troops preparing the assault. — Manohla Dargis, New York Times, "‘1917’ Review: Paths of Technical Glory," 24 Dec. 2019 The scheme cost the agency, which covers 304 square miles in Contra Costa County, $46,000 in direct salary payments and $19,000 in covering shifts while Manzo was out of the office or claimed to be on a special assignment, officials said. — Alejandro Serrano, SFChronicle.com, "The Scanner: Retired battalion chief in hot water, BART coffee-shop scheme ends in plea," 9 Dec. 2019 Here’s the basic storyline: The audience plays new Resistance recruits on an assignment by Rey (Daisy Ridley, in holographic form). — James Hibberd, EW.com, "Rise of the Resistance," 4 Dec. 2019

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

24 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Assignment.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assignment. Accessed 27 January 2020.

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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

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