assessment

noun

as·​sess·​ment ə-ˈses-mənt 

a-

1

: the action or an instance of making a judgment about something : the act of assessing something : appraisal

assessment of damages

an assessment of the president's achievements

2

: the amount assessed : an amount that a person is officially required to pay especially as a tax

the tax assessment on property

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History of Assessment

Assessment has two meanings (“an amount that a person is officially required to pay” and “the act of making a judgment about something”) so distinct that one might rightfully wonder if they come from different sources. They do not.

Both are derived from related senses of assess, a verb that for over 500 years has meant “to determine the rate or amount of (a tax).” The monetary sense of assessment is tied to this oldest use of assess. By the 19th century, the verb’s object shifted slightly to produce a new meaning, “to make an official valuation of (property) for the purposes of taxation.” It was but a short step from here to the broadened sense “to make a judgment about” that is the basis of assessment “the act of making a judgment.”

Synonyms

• duty
• imposition
• impost
• levy
• tax

Examples of assessment in a Sentence

It's a difficult problem that requires careful assessment.

I don't agree with his assessment of the problem.

The owners claimed the tax assessment on their house was too high.

Recent Examples on the Web

Success in the appeal can lead to savings for several years as the change becomes the basis for the next assessment, said Sepp. —Ana Teresa Solá, CNBC, 24 May 2025

Homeland Security Investigations has performed an intelligence threat assessment to gauge the risk to the border czar. —Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 23 May 2025

Last, the recovery stage offers hand and eye treatments, based on the assessment of your five organs and six viscera. —Akili King, Essence, 23 May 2025

Our assessment of Barrick Mining across significant metrics such as Growth, Profitability, Financial Stability, and Resilience During Downturns indicates that the company exhibits a moderate operating performance and financial health, as elaborated below. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

see assess

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing assessment

• self-assessment
• special assessment

Rhymes for assessment

• impressment
• reassessment

Kids Definition

assessment

noun

as·​sess·​ment ə-ˈses-mənt 

a-

1

: the act of assessing

2

: the amount or value assessed