denomination

noun

de·​nom·​i·​na·​tion di-ˌnä-mə-ˈnā-shən 

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

di-ˌnä-mə-ˈnā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

denominationally adverb

Synonyms

• appellation
• appellative
• cognomen
• compellation
• denotation
• designation
• handle
• moniker
• monicker
• name
• nomenclature
• title

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

As other Christian denominations hemorrhaged members, evangelicals saw their ranks grow; from 2016 to 2020, their share of the White adult population increased to 29 percent, from 25 percent, according to the Pew Research Center. —Shadi Hamid, Washington Post, 17 June 2024

It was filed on behalf of 14 religious leaders from various Christian, Jewish and Unitarian Universalist denominations. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2024

Southern Baptists, the country’s largest Protestant denomination, voted on Wednesday to oppose the use of in vitro fertilization. —Ruth Graham, New York Times, 12 June 2024

Similar divides have led to splits among Baptists, Mennonites, Presbyterians and other protestant denominations. —Kayla Jimenez, The Courier-Journal, 12 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

see denominate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

denomination

noun

de·​nom·​i·​na·​tion di-ˌnäm-ə-ˈnā-shən 

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 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective