Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Designation has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
identifying word or words by which someone or something is called and classified or distinguished from others
"The official designation of the new species was announced after months of research to distinguish it from similar plants."
the act of putting a person into a non-elective position
"the appointment had to be approved by the whole committee"
the act of designating or identifying something
"The official designation of the new park was announced at the city council meeting."
An act or instance of designating; a pointing out or showing; indication.
"The captain's sudden change in course was merely a designation of the storm's approach, not an actual warning signal."
"The new job designation clearly states that I will be managing all client accounts."
Usage: Use designation to refer specifically to the formal process of assigning someone a title, role, or specific status rather than their general job description. It is often confused with "appointment," but while an appointment implies being selected for a position, a designation emphasizes the official labeling or categorization itself.
The word designation comes from the Old French term designacion, which was borrowed into Middle English from the Latin dēsignātiō. It originally referred to a formal appointment or selection before evolving in modern usage to mean any specific label or description given to something.