designate

1 of 2

verb

des·​ig·​nate ˈde-zig-ˌnāt 

designated; designating

transitive verb

1

: to indicate and set apart for a specific purpose, office, or duty

designate a group to prepare a plan

2

a

: to point out the location of

a marker designating the battle

b

: to distinguish as to class (see class entry 1 sense 3)

the area we designate as that of spiritual values

—J. B. Conant

c

: specify, stipulate

to be sent by a designated shipper

3

: denote

associate names with the people they designate

4

: to call by a distinctive title, term, or expression

a particle designated the neutron

designative

ˈde-zig-ˌnā-tiv 

adjective

designator

ˈde-zig-ˌnā-tər 

noun

designatory

ˈde-zig-nə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

designate

2 of 2

adjective

des·​ig·​nate ˈde-zig-ˌnāt 

-nət

: chosen but not yet installed (see install sense 2a)

ambassador designate

Synonyms

Verb

• appoint
• fix
• name
• set

Examples of designate in a Sentence

Verb

The wooden stakes designate the edge of the building site.

the designated time for the meeting

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

House Republicans have designated the lion's share of spending cuts to the Energy and Commerce Committee, the panel that oversees Medicaid and CHIP, which has been instructed to cut $880 billion. —Riley Beggin, USA Today, 10 May 2025

The remaining units would be designated workforce housing for those making between 60% and 100% of the area median income. —Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2025

Adjective

In 2021, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. questioned how presidents have implemented the Antiquities Act to designate sprawling monuments and signaled the court might revisit the law in a future case. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025

Although the proposal does not designate which company would supply them, a 2021 bill introduced by Republican state Sen. Donna Campbell all but guarantees Texas will contract with the same vendor, the National Child Identification Program. —Lexi Churchill, ProPublica, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Latin designatus, past participle of designare — see design entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adjective

1629, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing designate

• designate as
• pre-designate

Rhymes for designate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

designate

verb

des·​ig·​nate

ˈdez-ig-ˌnāt

designated; designating

1

: to appoint or choose by name for a special purpose

designate someone as team captain

2

: to mark or point out : indicate

3

: to call by name or title

Etymology

Verb

from Latin designatus, past participle of designare "to choose for a purpose," from de- "down, from" and signare "to mark, mark out, sign, stamp with a seal," from signum "mark, sign, image" — related to sign