1
a
: 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
2
a(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
labeled or labelled; labeling or labelling
ˈlā-b(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: 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
2
a
: 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)
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hannah Fingerhut, Fortune Europe, 16 Apr. 2024
But Besties is the only one that sources 100% of its products from all-vegan manufacturers so that customers don’t have to scrutinize labels.
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
How to read nutrition labels Learning how to read these labels and which nutrients to look out for or avoid can be helpful.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
Founded in 1964, Fania Records became a powerhouse label with a signature sound: the apex of tropical music, combined with big band jazz and American R&B, jazz, funk and soul.
—Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024
The new brand encompasses label services, artist management, publishing, branding, distribution, acquisitions, touring, content creation and strategic marketing.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 16 Apr. 2024
Of course, there is uptown that is different, but the novelty to me was to find so many labels in sportswear that were cool.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024
Each comes in two kinds of boxes, one yellow and one featuring a blue and white label over pictures of the mini-bagels.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2024
Be sure to check supplement labels to see what ingredients may be present.
—Erika Prouty, Verywell Health, 11 Apr. 2024
Jason Del Rey, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
By Monday, 10 of the posts had community notes labeling the content as misleading, outdated or computer generated, but those posts appeared to continue to draw views.
—Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 16 Apr. 2024
Prosecutors allege Trump reimbursed his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, for the $130,000 hush money payment through a series of checks, falsely labeling them as payments for legal services.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024
So sunglasses labeled this way will also offer enough protection for kids.
—Staff Author, Parents, 13 Apr. 2024
The statement went on to say that the eclipse glasses were purchased from Walmart.com and labeled as having been manufactured by Medical King, a brand approved by the American Astronomical Society, but the library learned that the glasses may be counterfeits.
—Passant Rabie / Gizmodo, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
Will all the material created by this system be labeled as created by AI?
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
The society warns that some eclipse glasses are labeled as ISO-compliant but have not been properly tested.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The technology used cameras and sensors to track items customers left its stores with, but actually relied on over 1,000 workers in India who watched and labeled videos to check for accuracy.
—Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024
Noun
Based on that international report, California sought to add a cancer warning label to products containing glyphosate.
—Hannah Fingerhut, Fortune Europe, 16 Apr. 2024
But Besties is the only one that sources 100% of its products from all-vegan manufacturers so that customers don’t have to scrutinize labels.
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
How to read nutrition labels Learning how to read these labels and which nutrients to look out for or avoid can be helpful.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
Founded in 1964, Fania Records became a powerhouse label with a signature sound: the apex of tropical music, combined with big band jazz and American R&B, jazz, funk and soul.
—Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024
The new brand encompasses label services, artist management, publishing, branding, distribution, acquisitions, touring, content creation and strategic marketing.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 16 Apr. 2024
Of course, there is uptown that is different, but the novelty to me was to find so many labels in sportswear that were cool.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024
Each comes in two kinds of boxes, one yellow and one featuring a blue and white label over pictures of the mini-bagels.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2024
Be sure to check supplement labels to see what ingredients may be present.
—Erika Prouty, Verywell Health, 11 Apr. 2024
Verb
Humans also annotate and label some of these [videos of customers shopping] in order for our algorithms to be able to learn and get trained.
—Jason Del Rey, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024
By Monday, 10 of the posts had community notes labeling the content as misleading, outdated or computer generated, but those posts appeared to continue to draw views.
—Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 16 Apr. 2024
Prosecutors allege Trump reimbursed his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, for the $130,000 hush money payment through a series of checks, falsely labeling them as payments for legal services.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024
So sunglasses labeled this way will also offer enough protection for kids.
—Staff Author, Parents, 13 Apr. 2024
The statement went on to say that the eclipse glasses were purchased from Walmart.com and labeled as having been manufactured by Medical King, a brand approved by the American Astronomical Society, but the library learned that the glasses may be counterfeits.
—Passant Rabie / Gizmodo, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
Will all the material created by this system be labeled as created by AI?
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
The society warns that some eclipse glasses are labeled as ISO-compliant but have not been properly tested.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The technology used cameras and sensors to track items customers left its stores with, but actually relied on over 1,000 workers in India who watched and labeled videos to check for accuracy.
—Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'label.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near label
Cite this Entry
“Label.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/label. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
label
1 of 2 noun
la·bel
ˈlā-bəl
1
: a slip (as of paper or cloth) that is attached to something to identify or describe it
2
a
: a descriptive or identifying word or phrase
b
: the brand name of a commercial product
label
2 of 2 verb
labeled or labelled; labeling or labelling
-b(ə-)liŋ
1
: to attach a label to
2
: to name or describe with or as if with a label
3
: to make (as an element, compound, or cell) traceable by inclusion of a detectable part (as a radioactive isotope or a dye)
Medical Definition
label
2 of 2 transitive verb
labeled or labelled; labeling or labelling
ˈlā-b(ə-)liŋ
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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