designation

noun

des·​ig·​na·​tion ˌde-zig-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce designation (audio)
1
: the act of indicating or identifying
the designation of a speech sound
2
: appointment to or selection for an office, post, or service
awaiting his next designation
3
: a distinguishing name, sign, or title
… the only star in Lynx with a Greek letter designationRichard Berry
approved the area's designation as a wildlife refuge
4
: the relation between a sign and the thing signified

Examples of designation in a Sentence

Though many people call her a liberal, it is not a designation she uses herself. we've never given the homemade gadget a proper designation
Recent Examples on the Web In 2017, Trump drastically shrunk two Obama-era designations, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah, in what amounted to the biggest slash of federal land protections in the history of the United States. Vox Staff, Vox, 24 Oct. 2024 Waiting for an official designation before taking initiative could even significantly hinder your progress. Dr. Grace Lee, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 Residents have questioned whether repairing seawalls would remove the neighborhood's floodplain designation, which is set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Dana Afana, Detroit Free Press, 16 Oct. 2024 President Joe Biden's administration took steps this year to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I – its designation for decades – to a less dangerous Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 14 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for designation 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'designation.' 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 designate entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of designation was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near designation

Cite this Entry

“Designation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/designation. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

designation

noun
des·​ig·​na·​tion ˌdez-ig-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce designation (audio)
1
: the act of indicating or identifying
2
: appointment to or selection for an office, post, or service
3
: a name, sign, or title that identifies something

More from Merriam-Webster on designation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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