noun · 8 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
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/dɛzɪɡˈneɪʃən/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪʃən
CMU ARPABET:D EH2 Z AH0 G N EY1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:D EH2 Z IH0 G N EY1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
An act or instance of designating
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: indication
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Selection and appointment for a purpose or office.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
His designation as chief justice was controversial.
July 2021, Omar Marrero, quoted in CyberNewshttps://web.archive.org/web/20210805184306/https://www.puertoricoheadlinenews.com/15-million-allocated-for-non-profit-organizations/ The designation of funds by Governor Pedro Pierluisi will also allow non-profit entities to continue providing services to communities
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
That which designates; a distinguishing mark or name; distinctive title; appellation.
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
Signification, meaning, for example of a word or phrase.
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
5
noun
Meaning 5
Purpose, aim, intention.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
the act of designating or identifying something
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: identification
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: determination, finding
Narrower terms: diagnosis, diagnosing
7
noun
Meaning 7
the act of putting a person into a non-elective position
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the appointment had to be approved by the whole committee
identifying word or words by which someone or something is called and classified or distinguished from others
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: appellation, denomination, appellative
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: name
Narrower terms: street name, nickname, moniker, cognomen, sobriquet, soubriquet, byname, title, title of respect, form of address
History
Etymology
From Middle English designacioun, from Latin dēsignātiō, and partly (especially in sense 5) from design + -ation. By surface analysis, designate + -ion.
Across languages
Translations
44 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
цел
(cel)
— indication
Finnish:
osoittaminen
— indication
French:
indication
— indication
German:
Benennung
— indication
Italian:
indicazione
— indication
Norwegian:
betegnelse
— indication
Russian:
указа́ние
(ukazánije)
— indication
Russian:
обозначе́ние
(oboznačénije)
— indication
Swedish:
beteckning
— indication
Turkish:
adlandırma
— indication
Turkish:
isimlendirme
— indication
Finnish:
nimittäminen
— selection and appointment for a purpose, allotment
Italian:
designazione
— selection and appointment for a purpose, allotment
Māori:
tautapatanga
— selection and appointment for a purpose, allotment
Polish:
desygnacja
— selection and appointment for a purpose, allotment
Russian:
предназначе́ние
(prednaznačénije)
— selection and appointment for a purpose, allotment
Danish:
betegnelse
— distinguishing mark or name
Danish:
benævnelse
— distinguishing mark or name
Dutch:
benaming
— distinguishing mark or name
Finnish:
nimitys
— distinguishing mark or name
Finnish:
titteli
— distinguishing mark or name
Finnish:
nimike
— distinguishing mark or name
Finnish:
virkanimike
— distinguishing mark or name
French:
appellation
— distinguishing mark or name
German:
Benennung
— distinguishing mark or name
Icelandic:
heiti
— distinguishing mark or name
Italian:
designazione
— distinguishing mark or name
Italian:
appellativo
— distinguishing mark or name
Latin:
vocāmen
— distinguishing mark or name
Norwegian:
benevning
— distinguishing mark or name
Norwegian:
nemning
— distinguishing mark or name
Polish:
oznaczenie
— distinguishing mark or name
Russian:
обозначе́ние
(oboznačénije)
— distinguishing mark or name
Russian:
назва́ние
(nazvánije)
— distinguishing mark or name
Spanish:
designación
— distinguishing mark or name
Swedish:
benämning
— distinguishing mark or name
Swedish:
beteckning
— distinguishing mark or name
Turkish:
adlandırma
— distinguishing mark or name
Turkish:
isimlendirme
— distinguishing mark or name
Bulgarian:
предназначение
(prednaznačenie)
— use or application
Finnish:
merkitys
— use or application
Italian:
utilizzo
— use or application
Polish:
desygnacja
— use or application
Russian:
предназначе́ние
(prednaznačénije)
— use or application
