designation

noun

des·​ig·​na·​tion ˌde-zig-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce designation (audio)
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 designationRichard Berry
approved the area's designation as a wildlife refuge
4
: the relation between a sign and the thing signified

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 That designation is most commonly given to places where there is an armed conflict or natural disaster. Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2023 This designation means that semaglutide, Ozempic’s active ingredient, behaves a lot like the hormone GLP-1. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 19 Sep. 2023 The Cavs are no exception, with point guard Darius Garland, shooting guard Donovan Mitchell and center Jarrett Allen all receiving the star player designation. Chris Fedor, cleveland, 14 Sep. 2023 The landmark designations all started with Vincent deForest, his brother Robert deForrest and their creation of the Afro-American Bicentennial Corp. Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2023 Without the designation, products containing the ingredient may need to be removed from store shelves, or manufacturers may have to develop new formulations. Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 12 Sep. 2023 Other countries that Vietnam has extended the designation to include China and Russia. Josh Boak and Aamer Madhani, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023 At a time when there continue to be more job openings than workers to fill them, a designation as a top place to work can make a business or group a magnet for top talent, boosting its performance and success. Charisse Jones, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2023 ByteDance, however, was more critical of its gatekeeper designation. Jon Porter, The Verge, 6 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'designation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see designate entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of designation was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near designation

Cite this Entry

“Designation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/designation. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

designation

noun
des·​ig·​na·​tion ˌdez-ig-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce designation (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on designation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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