noun · 15 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/əˈsaɪn.mənt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -aɪnmənt
CMU ARPABET:AH0 S AY1 N M AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The act of assigning; the allocation of a job or a set of tasks.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
This flow chart represents the assignment of tasks in our committee.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The categorization of something as belonging to a specific category.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
We should not condone the assignment of asylum seekers to that of people smugglers.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The categorization of something as belonging to a specific category.
The categorization of persons as belonging to the male or female sex.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
An assigned task.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The assignment the department gave him proved to be quite challenging.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A position to which one is assigned.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
Unbeknownst to Mr Smith, his new assignment was in fact a demotion.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
A task given to students, such as homework or coursework.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: education
Examples
Mrs Smith gave out our assignments, and said we had to finish them by Monday.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
A transfer of a right or benefit from one person to another.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: law
Examples
The assignment of the lease has not been finalised yet.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
A document that effects this transfer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: law
Examples
Once you receive the assignment in the post, be sure to sign it and send it back as soon as possible.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
An operation that assigns a value to a variable.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract