designation
noun
des·ig·na·tion
ˌde-zig-ˈnā-shən 
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 designation—
Richard Berry
Richard Berryapproved the area's designation as a wildlife refuge
4
: the relation between a sign and the thing signified
Synonyms of designation
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
The designation East Palestine may have come from its location in far east Ohio, near the Pennsylvania border, in Appalachia.
—Mary Norris, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
The Times says that currently, 14,600 vehicles fall under the designation.
—Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Marine Fauthoux, one of the team’s developmental players, missed the game with the same designation.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
The new run, a 10 x 60-minute series, will be shot in Macao, which holds designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for designation
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Mary Norris, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
The Times says that currently, 14,600 vehicles fall under the designation.
—Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Marine Fauthoux, one of the team’s developmental players, missed the game with the same designation.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
The new run, a 10 x 60-minute series, will be shot in Macao, which holds designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for designation
Cite this Entry
“Designation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/designation. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
designation
noun
des·ig·na·tion
ˌdez-ig-ˈnā-shən
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
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