denomination

noun

de·​nom·​i·​na·​tion di-ˌnä-mə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce denomination (audio)
1
: an act of denominating
the denomination of prices in U.S. dollars
2
: a value or size of a series of values or sizes
metric denominations
especially : the value of a particular coin or bill
bills in $20 and $50 denominations
3
: name, designation
especially : a general name for a category
listed under the general denomination of gifts
4
: a religious organization whose congregations are united in their adherence to its beliefs and practices
people from several different Christian denominations
denominational adjective
denominationally adverb

Examples of denomination in a Sentence

People from several different religious denominations participated in the event. Methodists, Baptists, and other Christian denominations. It's one of the more conservative denominations. The kidnappers asked for bills in small denominations. The gift certificates are available in $5 and $10 denominations. She spoke with people of many different political denominations.
Recent Examples on the Web Gone are the days when the Catholic Church held a monopoly over Latin American and Latino souls: for decades now, the region has been shifting toward other Christian denominations, particularly Pentecostal, evangelical, and Protestant. Graciela Mochkofsky, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 Game cards at Andretti Indoor Karting & Games come in various denominations. The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2024 Since then, the church has passed through a variety of denominations and congregations until it was abandoned in 2021. Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Yet major religious denominations actually hold varied views about IVF, as do Americans, including those in the conservative Christian circles to which Parker belongs. Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 In Christianity alone, it is estimated that there are thousands—yes, thousands—of different denominations around the world. Tim Maurer, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024 Various denominations observe Ash Wednesday during different dates leading up to Easter Sunday with unique traditions. Maeghan Dolph, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2024 The results are based on a survey in the fall of 2023 of about 1,700 Christian clergy members from more than 40 denominations, including Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox bodies. CBS News, 11 Jan. 2024 While a lot has changed over the centuries as some schools distanced themselves from the denominations that launched them, there are still plenty of options for students who want faith to be a part of their college experience. Brennan Barnard, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'denomination.' 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 denominate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of denomination was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near denomination

Cite this Entry

“Denomination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denomination. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

denomination

noun
de·​nom·​i·​na·​tion di-ˌnäm-ə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce denomination (audio)
1
: an act of denominating
2
: one of a series of related values each having a special name
a $5 bill represents one denomination of U.S. money
3
: name entry 1 sense 1, designation
especially : a general name for a class of things
4
: a religious body made up of a number of congregations with similar beliefs
denominational
-shnəl How to pronounce denomination (audio)
-shən-ᵊl
adjective

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