designation
gb/dˌɛzɪɡnˈeɪʃən/ us/dˌɛzɪɡnˈeɪʃən/
B2
English
~ 8800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
B2
entity
1
official name, label, or title
An official name or title that is given to a person, thing, or job so people know what it is.
Usage pattern:
the designation [of someone/something] as [a role/type]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "designation" with "design" or "destination." "Designation" is a noun meaning an official name or title. Do not say *"My work design is teacher"* or *"My destination is teacher"* when you mean *"My designation is teacher"* (formal) or simply *"I am a teacher."* Also, many everyday situations prefer simpler words like "job title" instead of "designation."
Synonyms
title (Commonly used for job roles or honorifics; slightly less formal and more everyday than "designation".)
|
name (More general and common; not limited to official or formal contexts like "designation" often is.)
|
label (Suggests a brief description or tag; can sound less formal and sometimes critical compared with neutral "designation".)
Antonyms
nickname (A familiar or informal name, often unofficial, which contrasts with the formal, official nature of a designation.)
Collocations
official designation
|job designation
|model designation
|title and designation
|brand designation
|position designation
Themes
work
|bureaucracy
|law
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her official designation at the company is "Senior Project Manager."
- The new aircraft carries the military designation F-35A.
- The product’s designation on the label must match its registration documents.
- He prefers the designation "software engineer" rather than "programmer."
- Under its new designation, the street is now called Liberty Avenue.
Learner examples
- My job designation is "sales assistant."
- The car’s model designation is written on the back.
- His official designation at work changed last year.
- Please write your full name and designation on the form.
- The city gave the bridge a heritage designation and a new name.
Noun
formal
C1
action
2
act of officially appointing
The official act of choosing someone for a job or role.
Usage pattern:
the designation of [someone] as [a role]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use the verb "design" instead of the noun "designation" when talking about giving a job. Do not say *"The design of a new manager"* when you mean *"the designation of a new manager"* or simply *"the appointment of a new manager." Also, do not use it as a verb (*"He was designateded"*); use "He was designated" or "He was appointed."
Synonyms
appointment (Very common for giving someone a job or position; slightly less formal and more widely used than "designation.")
|
nomination (Often used when someone is proposed for a position, sometimes before final approval, whereas "designation" can imply a final decision.)
Antonyms
dismissal (Refers to officially removing someone from a job, the opposite of formally choosing them for a role.)
|
removal (General term for taking someone out of a position, which contrasts with putting them into a position by designation.)
Collocations
designation of a successor
|designation as director
|designation of responsibility
|formal designation
|official designation ceremony
|unanimous designation
Themes
work
|bureaucracy
|politics
|business
Examples
- Her designation as team leader was announced at the meeting.
- The board’s sudden designation of a new CEO surprised investors.
- The treaty required the designation of a neutral observer.
- His designation to the post came after months of negotiations.
- We are still waiting for the official designation of a project manager.
Learner examples
- His designation as manager became official today.
- The president announced the designation of a new judge.
- After her designation, she started her new duties at once.
- The company will delay the designation of a new director.
- The law asks for the designation of one contact person.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
3
official status or classification
An official status or class that shows something is in a special group, often by law or government rules.
Usage pattern:
the designation of [a place/thing] as [a category/status]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "designation" always means a job title. In government and legal contexts, it can also mean an official status, such as "protected area designation" or "heritage designation." In these cases, it does not refer to a person’s job but to a place or thing’s legal category.
Synonyms
status (Broad word for official standing; does not always imply a formal category like "designation" does.)
|
classification (Focuses on sorting into types; less tied to legal or formal recognition than many uses of "designation.")
Antonyms
declassification (The act of removing a formal status or category, often used when something is no longer protected or secret.)
|
revocation (General term for officially taking back a status, permission, or designation.)
Collocations
heritage designation
|protected designation
|hazardous area designation
|World Heritage designation
|emergency designation
|endangered species designation
Themes
law
|environment
|bureaucracy
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The wetland received a protected area designation from the government.
- After its designation as a national park, tourism to the region increased sharply.
- The city is seeking UNESCO World Heritage designation for its historic center.
- This special tax designation applies only to non-profit organizations.
- Environmental groups opposed the removal of the forest’s conservation designation.
Learner examples
- The island has a special designation as a nature reserve.
- After its designation as a park, many rules changed.
- The animal got an official designation as an endangered species.
- The town wants a heritage designation for the old bridge.
- Losing the protected designation would harm the local environment.
Grammar
Dictionary form
designation
IPA
GB/dˌɛzɪɡnˈeɪʃən/
US/dˌɛzɪɡnˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
des - ig - na - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (na)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: designation
- Plural: designation, designations
Word family
Forms
designations
noun
Core family
designate
verb B2
designated
adjective
Related words
designee
noun
Negative and opposite forms
undesignated
adjective
Advanced or less common
designator
noun
Expressions
by designation
1/bˈaɪ dˌɛzɪɡnˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
according to official title
Used to say that something is true because of a person’s or thing’s official name or title, not necessarily what they do in practice.
Examples
- He is a lawyer by designation but works mainly as a writer.
- The town is a city by designation, even though its population is quite small.
- She is, by designation, the project coordinator, although the team shares most tasks.
designation of origin
1/dˌɛzɪɡnˈeɪʃən əv ˈɔɹəd͡ʒən/
fixed phrase
technical
official label for product origin
A legal or official name on food or drink that shows the place where it was made and often protects that name.
Examples
- The wine has a strict designation of origin that limits where the grapes can be grown.
- European cheeses with a protected designation of origin must follow traditional methods.
- Producers are fighting to get a designation of origin for their regional olive oil.
protected designation of origin
1/pɹətˈɛktɪd dˌɛzɪɡnˈeɪʃən əv ˈɔɹəd͡ʒən/
fixed phrase
technical
legal protection for regional product name
A special legal status in some countries that protects the name of a food or drink so only products from a certain region can use that name.
Examples
- Parma ham has a protected designation of origin under EU law.
- Only cheese made in that valley can use the protected designation of origin on its label.
- Producers applied for a protected designation of origin to stop cheap copies of their product.