designation

plural designations

1. countableuncountableAn act or instance of designating

   Synonyms: indication

2. countableuncountableSelection and appointment for a purpose or office.

   His designation as chief justice was controversial.

   1 more example

   July 2021, Omar Marrero, quoted in CyberNewshttps://web.archive.org/web/20210805184306/https://www.puertoricoheadlinenews.com/15-million-allocated-for-non-profit-organizations/ The designation of funds by Governor Pedro Pierluisi will also allow non-profit entities to continue providing services to communities

3. countableuncountableThat which designates; a distinguishing mark or name; distinctive title; appellation.

   Man is the most aggressive animal in the sea (and on the land as well), and all the "man-eater" stories in history will not change this designation.

   1983, Richard Ellis, The Book of Sharks, Knopf, →ISBN, page 144

   1 more example

   The Romans evolved a quite different system of nomenclature, which in its classical form consisted of three names, the praenomen (e.g. Marcus), nomen (e.g. Tullius), and cognomen (e.g. Cicero), and two other designations (the name of the father and of the tribe): […]

   1945, E[lizabeth] G[idley] Withycombe, “Introduction”, in The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page xiv

4. countableuncountableSignification, meaning, for example of a word or phrase.

   It doesn't list all the connotations that the term may have in various contexts: it specifies the designation of the term, or one of the designations of the term.

   1953, Jacob Hooper Wise, The Meaning in Reading

5. countableobsoleteuncountablePurpose, aim, intention.

   Deſignation, or Deſign, (Lat[in] and French) a purpoſing or contriving.

   [1658, Edward Phillips, compiler, “Designation”, in The New World of English Words: Or, A General Dictionary: […], London: […] E. Tyler, for Nath[aniel] Brook […], →OCLC, signature M, recto, column 1

   4 more examples

   But ſo far as Words are of Uſe and Signification, ſo far is there a conſtant connexion between the Sound and the Idea; and a Designation, that the one ſtand for the other: without which Application of them, they are nothing, but ſo much inſignificant Noiſe.

   1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], “Of the Signification of Words”, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC, book III, § 7, page 189

   When he had thus reſolved within himſelf, he ſent to his grandſon’s tutor, and ordered him to bring the child to him early in the morning: as ſuppoſing that God would permit him to be made Emperor. But God proved oppoſite to his deſignation.

   1737, Flavius Josephus, translated by William Whiston, “[…] Antiquities of the Jews”, in The Genuine Works of Flavius Josephus, the Jewish Historian. […], volume III, Dublin: […] R. Reilly: For George Ewing […], published 1741, →OCLC, book XVIII […], chapter VI (Of the Navigation of King [Herod] Agrippa to Rome, to Tiberius Cesar: […]), page 456

   Convinced that this mutual paſſion is the deſignation of Heaven to reſtore him to that affluence he loſt by the partiality of an anceſtor and the generous loyalty of his family, I give way to it without reſerve; […]

   1763, [Frances Brooke], “To Miss Howard”, in The History of Lady Julia Mandeville. […], new edition, volume II, London: […] R[obert] Dodsley, […], →OCLC, page 2

   In fine, our rule for judging of the mode and degree of this combination of variety and unity, seems to be no other than that of its fitness, and conformity to the designation of each species.

   a. 1807, James Barry, “Lecture II. On Design.”, in The Works of James Barry, Esq., Historical Painter; […], volume I, London: […] J. M‘Creery, […] for T[homas] Cadell and W[illiam] Davies, […], published 1809, →OCLC, page 397