assignment

noun

as·​sign·​ment ə-ˈsīn-mənt 

1

: the act of assigning something

the assignment of a task

2

a

: 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 of assignment

• task
• job
• duty

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

Right assignment or not, which Miami’s coaches admit isn’t always the case, Proctor committed to putting someone on the ground, and the Dolphins — who want to build a physical team under new head coach Jeff Hafley — can work with that. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026

Earlier this year, Vollmann traveled to Cuba on assignment for Granta Magazine with his friend, Sacramento attorney Mark Merin. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026

And press groups and media outlets have put a far-greater emphasis on journalists' safety and careful planning of assignments. — David Folkenflik, NPR, 4 Oct. 2026

DedCool understood the assignment and included a warm base of Australian sandalwood, amber, and white musk to soften the scent. — Vivien Lee, InStyle, 3 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see assign entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing assignment

• self-assignment

Rhymes for assignment

• alignment
• alinement
• confinement
• consignment
• refinement
• misalignment
• nonalignment
• realignment
• reassignment
• reconsignment

Legal Definition

assignment

noun

as·​sign·​ment

1

: the act of assigning

2

a

: 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