designate

C1 Topic:Communication

US /ˈdez.ɪɡ.nət/ UK /ˈdɛz.ɪɡ.nət/ See IPA manual

adj verb Freq #32406

Meanings

1

verb
To officially choose someone or something for a particular purpose or role.

The committee designated her as the new chairperson.
2

verb
To mark or describe something so it can be clearly identified.

The area was designated a national park.
3

adj
Chosen for a role but not yet officially holding it.

The president designate will take office next month.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to officially choose... specify

2 verb · to mark or describe... indicate denote

More denominate earmark entitle name style

Word family

Forms designateddesignatesdesignating

Derived forms commissioner-designatedesignatabledesignatordesignatorydesigneeindesignatenondesignatingpredesignateredesignate

Related forms codesignativedesignationdesignativedesignatum

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dēsignātus, perfect passive participle of designō, see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of design.

*sek- Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Communication Word Formation & Derivatives

# designate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj, verb
**IPA (US):** ˈdez.ɪɡ.nət
**IPA (UK):** ˈdɛz.ɪɡ.nət
**Frequency rank:** 32406

## Meanings
1. To officially choose someone or something for a particular purpose or role.
2. To mark or describe something so it can be clearly identified.
3. Chosen for a role but not yet officially holding it.

## Examples
- The committee designated her as the new chairperson.
- The area was designated a national park.
- The president designate will take office next month.

## Synonyms
- denominate
- earmark
- entitle
- name
- style

## Derived Forms
- commissioner-designate
- designatable
- designator
- designatory
- designee
- indesignate
- nondesignating
- predesignate
- redesignate

## Related Forms
- codesignative
- designation
- designative
- designatum

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *sek-
- Root: *sekʷ-

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin dēsignātus, perfect passive participle of designō, see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of design.

## AI Etymology
Designate is borrowed from Latin dēsignātus, perfect passive participle of designō, see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of design. The historical chain includes *sek- (Proto-Indo-European) and *sekʷ- (Proto-Indo-European). The surrounding word family includes derived forms such as commissioner-designate, designatable, designator, and designatory and related forms such as codesignative, designation, and designative. In present use it covers to officially choose someone or something for a particular purpose or role, to mark or describe something so it can be clearly identified, and chosen for a role but not yet officially holding it.

## Topics
- Communication
- Word Formation & Derivatives

markdown

designate

Meanings

Thesaurus

Etymology

Topics

Keyboard Shortcuts

General

Send feedback