Synonyms of designation
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The building does not hold formal historic designation, but is well known within the community. Jennifer Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Syria had been on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list since 1979, with the designation in force throughout al-Assad’s rule. Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026 The designations in question impacted business leaders and firms operating out of China, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Turkey, and Greece. Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2026 But the terrorism designation remained a source of legal and compliance risk for firms considering entering Syria, whose government is seeking billions of dollars in investment to rebuild after nearly 14 years of war. Reuters, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for designation

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

Cite this Entry

“Designation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/designation. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

designation

noun
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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