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

• appellation
• appellative
• cognomen
• compellation
• denomination
• denotation
• handle
• moniker
• monicker
• name
• nomenclature
• title

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

Review your beneficiary designations: Retirement accounts and insurance policies have beneficiary designations that pass outside of one’s will. —Jonathan I. Shenkman, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024

All-Pro inside linebacker and defensive play-caller Roquan Smith, who missed last week’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers because of a hamstring injury, was a full participant in Friday’s practice in Owings Mills and does not have an injury designation on the final injury report of the week. —Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 29 Nov. 2024

That is a little worse than last week when a portion of central Connecticut still had no designation and only a tiny corner was designated as moderate drought. —Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 27 Nov. 2024

Peterson explained that wealth can be transferred through asset titling or beneficiary designations. —Lorie Konish, CNBC, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see designate entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing designation

• self-designation

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