la·bel | \ ˈlā-bəl 
\
\Definition of label
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : a slip (as of paper or cloth) inscribed and affixed to something for identification or description
The name is prominently displayed on the label.
b : written or printed matter accompanying an article to furnish identification or other information
Read the warning label before taking any medicine.
c : a descriptive or identifying word or phrase: such as
(1) : epithet acquired the label of "playboy"
(2) : a word or phrase used with a dictionary definition to provide additional information
The label obsolete is abbreviated obs.
d : a usually radioactive isotope used in labeling
2a(1) : a brand of commercial recordings issued under a usually trademarked name
(2) : a company issuing such recordings
The band has made records for several different labels.
(3) : a recording so issued
b : the brand name of a retail store selling clothing, a clothing manufacturer, or a fashion designer
She only buys clothes with a designer label.
3 : an adhesive stamp (as for postage or revenue)
4 : a heraldic charge that consists of a narrow horizontal band with usually three pendants
label
verblabeled or labelled; labeling or labelling\ ˈlā-b(ə-)liŋ \
\Definition of label (Entry 2 of 2)
1a : to affix a label to
labeled the switches so as not to confuse them
b : to describe or designate with or as if with a label
labels his photos with the date and place they were taken
2a : to distinguish (an element or atom) by using an isotope (see isotope sense 1) distinctive in some manner (as in mass or radioactivity)
b : to distinguish (something, such as a compound or cell) by introducing a traceable constituent (such as a dye or labeled atom)
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Other Words from label
Verb
labelable \ ˈlā-bə-lə-bəl \ adjective
\ adjectivelabeler \ ˈlā-b(ə-)lər \ noun
\ noun
Examples of label in a Sentence
Noun
The name is prominently displayed on the label.
You should read the warning label before you take any medicine.
The word was given the label “obsolete.”
Some people describe him as “selfish,” but he doesn't deserve that label.
Once you give people labels, it's hard to see them as individuals.
The band has made records for several different labels in their career. Verb
Be sure to carefully label the switches so that you don't confuse them.
He labels his photographs with the date and place they were taken.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun In addition to the warning label, the FDA is also requiring changes to prescribing information on all products and existing patient Medication Guides.
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Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, "FDA requires stronger warning label for Xanax, Valium and other similar benzodiazepine drugs," 24 Sep. 2020 Ebola vaccine was approved last year based on a 3,500-patient study that identified 10 cases, according to its label.
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Robert Langreth, Bloomberg.com, "Pfizer Is On Track to Be First to Find Out If Its Covid Vaccine Works," 22 Sep. 2020 The Quai Branly funerary post, according to its museum label, was a gift from a French doctor and explorer who went on ethnological missions around Africa.
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Farah Nayeri, New York Times, "To Protest Colonialism, He Takes Artifacts From Museums," 21 Sep. 2020 Most of them are feeding off a neither-candidate-is-good-enough syndrome that makes people vote for mystery men and women who come attached to a nice-sounding party label.
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Gail Collins New York Times, Star Tribune, "Avoid the third-party candidates who want to run the country," 17 Sep. 2020 The artist is the only Black female country artist signed to a major label, navigating a predominantly white male genre.
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Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE.com, "Mickey Guyton on Representing Black Women at the ACM Awards: 'It's Been a Long Time Coming'," 16 Sep. 2020 Director Jake Huber says the video’s budget of $22,000 ranks as one of the biggest ever for a project featuring an Indianapolis musician not signed to a major recording label.
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David Lindquist, The Indianapolis Star, "Retro-themed music video is step forward for Poindexter and director Jake Huber," 27 Aug. 2020 As the Mulleavys have expressed in the past, Radarte, which launched in 2008, is meant to act as an accessible, low-key alternative to their luxury label, and pay homage to their California roots.
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Eliza Huber, refinery29.com, "Rodarte’s Collection On Depop Includes Tie-Dye & Starts At $40," 25 Aug. 2020 This true-life story revolves around a cynical London music executive who tries to sign an unorthodox boy band -- ten rugged fishermen -- to his record label.
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John Benson, cleveland, "‘Before the Fire’ and ‘Apocalypse ’45’ top this week’s streaming movies in Cleveland Cinemas and Cinematheque virtual screening rooms," 12 Aug. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Experts across the country label the race a toss-up.
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Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, "Ad watch: Republican ads say Kate Schroder raised taxes. But she's never held elected office," 20 Oct. 2020 Even if these companies do label posts from violating politicians, those messages can achieve massive reach in minutes.
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Kurt Wagner, Bloomberg.com, "Facebook, Twitter Brace for Possible Election-Night Chaos," 10 Oct. 2020 Indie label Mom+Pop Music has promoted Lindsay Schapiro to vp, head of digital.
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Chris Eggertsen, Billboard, "Executive Turntable: Concord Publishing Chief Jake Wisely Steps Down, UK Music Names New CEO," 18 Sep. 2020 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo – during a diplomatic swing through the Middle East – offered last week to lift the terrorism label off post-revolution Sudan in return for $330 million in compensation for Al Qaeda attacks from over two decades ago.
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Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, "US offers a way off terrorism list. Is price right for Sudanese?," 2 Sep. 2020 But their Catholic school, which opened last week, also required reusable water bottles and beach towels, and asked parents to individually label each school supply, down to the crayon, to avoid cross-contamination.
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Abha Bhattarai, Washington Post, "Fanny packs are the new backpack: How the pandemic is reshaping back-to-school shopping," 24 Aug. 2020 Van Halen was signed to Warner Bros. Records after label President Mo Ostin and producer Ted Templeman watched a performance at the Starwood on a rainy Monday night.
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cleveland, "Eddie Van Halen 1955-2020: Grinning guitar god for a rock generation," 6 Oct. 2020 According to these groups, Gates also paid the World Health Organization to label the coronavirus a pandemic.
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Nina Jankowicz, The Atlantic, "How an Anti-Shutdown Celebrity Is Made," 3 Oct. 2020 Facebook says it’s removing content that violates its policies and it’s working with more than 70 fact-checking organizations to assess and label misleading content.
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Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, "Trump and COVID-19: Facebook, Twitter and YouTube race to contain disinformation about president's diagnosis," 2 Oct. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'label.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for label
label
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of label
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a piece of paper, cloth, or similar material that is attached to something to identify or describe it
: a word or phrase that describes or identifies something or someone
: a company that produces musical recordings
label
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of label (Entry 2 of 2)
: to put a word or name on something to describe or identify it : to attach a label to (something)
: to name or describe (someone or something) in a specified way : to give a label to (someone or something)
See the full definition for label in the English Language Learners Dictionary
label
nounla·bel | \ ˈlā-bəl \
\Kids Definition of label
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : a slip (as of paper or cloth) attached to something to identify or describe it
2 : a word or phrase that describes or names something or someone
a part-of-speech label
label
verblabeled or labelled; labeling or labelling
Kids Definition of label (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to put a word or words on (something) to identify or describe it
Be sure to label your belongings.
2 : to name or describe with or as if with a label
The team was labeled “the Dream Team.”
label
nounla·bel | \ ˈlā-bəl \
\Medical Definition of label
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a usually radioactive isotope used in labeling
label
transitive verblabeled or labelled; labeling or labelling\ ˈlā-b(ə-)liŋ \
\Medical Definition of label (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to distinguish (an element or atom) by using an isotope distinctive in some manner (as in mass or radioactivity) for tracing through chemical reactions or biological processes
2 : to distinguish (as a compound or cell) by introducing a traceable constituent (as a dye or labeled atom)
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Time Traveler for label
The first known use of label was in the 14th century
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