denominate

D2E1N1O1M3I1N1A1T1E1
UK/dɪˈnɒm.ɪ.neɪt/US/dɪˈnɑ.mɪ.neɪt/UK/dɪˈnɒmɪnət/

verb

To name; to designate.

“Oil is denominated in dollars, so changes in the strength of the dollar affect oil prices everywhere.”

RareScrabble 13

Meanings

verbdenominate (third-person singular simple present denominates, present participle denominating, simple past and past participle denominated)

present singular third person denominates · participle present denominating · participle past denominated · past denominated

  1. To name; to designate.

    […] in those two months, Mrs. Linton encountered and conquered the worst shock of what was denominated a brain fever.

    1847 December, Ellis Bell [pseudonym; Emily Brontë], chapter XIII, in Wuthering Heights: […], volume I, London: Thomas Cautley Newby, […], →OCLC, page 301
    2 more examples

    On the contrary thoſe other Paſſions, commonly denominated ſelfiſh, both produce different Sentiments in each Individual, according to his particular Situation; […]

    1751, David Hume, “Section IX. Conclusion of the Whole.”, in An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, page 179

    The ſecond [blast of the trumpet] they denominate the blaſt of exanimation; when all creatures both in heaven and earth ſhall die, or be annihilated, except thoſe which God ſhall pleaſe to exempt from the common fate.

    1759, “The History of the Empire of the Arabs, under the first four Khalîfs, and those of the families of Ommiyah and Abbas, to the taking of Baghdâd by the Tartars”, in The Modern Part of an Universal History, from the Earliest Account of Time. […], volume I, London: […] S. Richardson, T. Osborne, C. Hitch, […], page 334

    Synonyms: bename

  2. To express in a denomination (i.e., a monetary unit).

    Oil is denominated in dollars, so changes in the strength of the dollar affect oil prices everywhere.

adjectivedenominate (not comparable)
  1. archaicnot comparableHaving a specific name or denomination; specified in the concrete as opposed to abstract; thus, 7 feet is a denominate quantity, while 7 is mere abstract quantity or number.
    1 more example

    So as I take it to bee denominate of the King of the Hebrewes, which is famous with you, and no Stranger to vs. For wee haue ſome Parts of his works, which with you are loſt; Namely that Naturall Hiſtory, which hee wrote of all Plants, from the Cedar of Libanus, to the Moſſe that groweth out of the Wall; And of all things that haue Life and Motion.

    1631, Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, page 19
  2. not comparableobsoleteDenominated, named.
noundenominate (plural denominates)

plural denominates

  1. obsoletegrammarA noun derived from some other noun, a denominative.

    Aristotle […] thus […] writeth: Those [words] are called denominates, which haue the appellation of a name from some other […] as from Grammar, man is called a Grammarian.

    1638, Thomas Spencer, The Art of Logick, delivered in the Precepts of Aristotle and Ramus

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo name; to designate.

Similar

More synonyms by meaning

verbassign a name or title to

Similar

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latindēnōminātus
  2. Middle Englishdenominat(e)“named, called”
  3. Englishdenominate

PIE word *h₁nómn̥ Inherited from Middle English denominat(e) (“named, called”), borrowed from Latin dēnōminātus, perfect passive participle of dēnōminō, see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3). By surface analysis, de- + nominate.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian наричам, именувам
  • наричам (naričam)to name
  • именувам (imenuvam)to name
  • деноминирам (denominiram)to express in a monetary unit
Finnish nimetä, noteerata
  • nimetäto name
  • noteeratato express in a monetary unit
Spanish denominar, denominado en
  • denominarto name
  • denominado ento express in a monetary unit
Ukrainian іменува́ти
  • іменува́ти (imenuváty)to name

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

denominate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/denominate

MLA

“denominate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/denominate. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “denominate,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/denominate.

Source: denominate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.