designation

noun

des·​ig·​na·​tion ˌde-zig-ˈnā-shən 

1

: the act of indicating or identifying

the designation of a speech sound

2

: appointment to or selection for an office, post, or service

awaiting his next designation

3

: a distinguishing name, sign, or title

… the only star in Lynx with a Greek letter designation

—Richard Berry

approved the area's designation as a wildlife refuge

4

: the relation between a sign and the thing signified

Synonyms of designation

• moniker
• name
• title
• nomenclature
• nickname
• appellation

Examples of designation in a Sentence

Though many people call her a liberal, it is not a designation she uses herself.

we've never given the homemade gadget a proper designation

Recent Examples on the Web

The ordinance associated with the land’s zoning also has a provision that would revert it back to a single-family residence designation if the city determined that overflow parking was no longer needed, the lawsuit states. —Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026

The judge also highlighted DJI’s designation as a National Enterprise Technology Center. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Feb. 2026

More than a year later, Google reported two searches for the woman’s address were made a few hours before the assault from a specific IP address, a numeric designation that lists where a phone or computer lives on the internet. —Mark Scolforo, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026

Then, in May, federal prosecutors used that designation to charge 39-year-old Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez for allegedly providing grenades to CJNG. —CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see designate entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing designation

• self-designation

Rhymes for designation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

designation

noun

des·​ig·​na·​tion ˌdez-ig-ˈnā-shən 

1

: the act of indicating or identifying

2

: appointment to or selection for an office, post, or service

3

: a name, sign, or title that identifies something