label

noun

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

5 archaic : band, fillet specifically : one attached to a document to hold an appended seal

label

verb

labeled or labelled; labeling or labelling\ ˈlā-b(ə-)liŋ

Definition of label (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

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)

Other Words from label Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing label Learn More About label

Other Words from label

Verb

labelable \ ˈlā-bə-lə-bəl

\ adjective

labeler \ ˈlā-b(ə-)lər

\ noun

Synonyms for label

Synonyms: Noun

Synonyms: Verb

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Sabyasachi founded his label with 20,000 rupees from his father and sister, who both went on to work with him for many years, and a team of two craftspeople in his parents’ apartment. — New York Times, 22 June 2022 Débuting in 2013, BTS was the creation of the producer and songwriter Bang Si-Hyuk and his K-pop label, Big Hit Entertainment. — E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 21 June 2022 Two members of 1970s rock band Orleans have sued Warner Music Group and its subsidiary label Warner Records over a dispute regarding royalty deductions the companies instituted that the members claim weren’t disclosed to them. — Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2022 Just this month, the prestigious LVMH Prize was awarded to British menswear designer Steven Stokey Daley and his label S.S. Daley for his flowing silhouettes, loud knits and penchant for skimpy, open shirts. — Leah Dolan, CNN, 21 June 2022 For all of the festivities—with the exception of one epic Alaïa pool party moment—the bride made a statement in looks from her eponymous label. — Alexandra Macon, Vogue, 17 June 2022 Meanwhile, Jonathan Ingberg took a different approach and launched his unisex label By Hinders in 2020. — Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 16 June 2022 Your label says your product kills 99.9 percent of germs in 30 seconds — but what about that 0.1 percent? — Pat Myers, Washington Post, 16 June 2022 As part of that restructuring, Alamo sold its Drafthouse Films label to digital distributor Giant Pictures. — Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 June 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Several posts have falsely sought to label teachers and librarians who accept the LGBTQ community as abusers or groomers of children. — Rebecca Boone, Anchorage Daily News, 14 June 2022 Several posts have falsely sought to label teachers and librarians who accept the LGBTQ community as abusers or groomers of children. — Rebecca Boone, BostonGlobe.com, 13 June 2022 In general, coroners and medical examiners are unlikely to label drug deaths as suicides without clear evidence. — Sara Novak, Scientific American, 6 June 2022 On the online message board 4Chan, users liberally shared the photos and discussed a plan to label the gunman as transgender, without any evidence to back it up. — CBS News, 26 May 2022 The claim also oversimplifies the new study's findings, which do not label the enzyme as a definitive biomarker, according to Dr. Rachel Moon, a SIDS researcher at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. — Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 25 May 2022 Rauh, Lev and some members of Congress are also calling on the administration to label fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) in order to strengthen punishments for entities and individuals who distribute the drug. — Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 16 May 2022 In January 2021, Apeda removed the requirement for slaughterhouses to label their meat as halal. — Manavi Kapur, Quartz, 7 Apr. 2022 Without a clear definition and regulation of regenerative agriculture, Walmart can continue to label its efforts as regenerative with few repercussions. — Rachel Hellman, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2022 See More

These 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.

Learn More About label

Dictionary Entries Near label

labefaction

label

label clause

Statistics for label

Last Updated

25 Jun 2022

Cite this Entry

“Label.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/label. Accessed 28 Jun. 2022.

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More Definitions for label

label

noun

la·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

verb

labeled 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

noun

la·bel | \ ˈlā-bəl

Medical Definition of label

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a usually radioactive isotope used in labeling

label

transitive verb

labeled 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)