Designated: meaning, definitions and examples

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designated

 

[ˈdɛzɪɡˌneɪtɪd ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

officially assigned

Officially assigned or appointed to a particular position or task. Typically used in the context of a specific role or responsibility given to someone.

Synonyms

appointed, assigned, selected.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
designated

Use when specifying or marking a particular person or thing for a responsibility or role.

  • She was designated as the team leader.
  • The park was designated as a protected area.
appointed

Common in formal contexts, such as official roles, jobs, or positions, often suggesting a higher authority made the decision.

  • He was appointed as the new director of the company.
  • The board appointed her to lead the committee.
assigned

Typically used when giving a task, duty, or job to someone, often in work or academic settings.

  • The teacher assigned homework to the students.
  • She was assigned to the new project.
selected

Implies a choice was made from a group of options, often based on specific criteria or qualities.

  • He was selected to participate in the conference.
  • She was selected from a pool of candidates.

Examples of usage

  • He is the designated driver for tonight's party.
  • The designated spokesperson will address the media.
Context #2 | Verb

mark or select for a specific purpose

To mark or select something for a specific purpose or function. Often used in the context of identifying or indicating something for a particular use.

Synonyms

allocate, appoint, assign.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
designated

Use 'designated' when you are indicating that someone or something has been officially chosen for a specific purpose or role.

  • She was designated as the project leader.
  • This area is designated for staff parking only.
allocate

Use 'allocate' when you are distributing resources, tasks, or responsibilities among different people or groups.

  • The manager had to allocate funds for the new project.
  • Time was allocated for each team to present their findings.
assign

Use 'assign' when you are giving someone a particular task or duty to complete.

  • I was assigned to work on the new project.
  • The teacher assigned a lot of homework over the weekend.
appoint

Use 'appoint' when you are formally selecting someone for a position or job, usually through a formal process.

  • The committee will appoint a new chairman next week.
  • She was appointed as the new director of marketing.

Examples of usage

  • They designated the area as a no-parking zone.
  • She designated a special area for the children to play.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The term comes from the Latin word 'designatus', which means 'marked out or appointed'.
  • It was first recorded in English around the late 16th century, evolving into its current form.
  • Related words include 'designate', meaning to formally indicate or assign a role.

Law

  • In legal contexts, a designated role often has specific responsibilities and powers outlined by law.
  • Designated entities may be appointed to manage resources like public lands or special projects.
  • Terms like 'designated survivor' refer to someone chosen to remain safe during emergencies, showcasing the importance of selection in governance.

Education

  • In schools, designated areas such as 'designated smoking zones' help maintain a safe environment.
  • Often in educational settings, a designated teacher will take charge of special needs programs.
  • Programs designed for young children often have designated play areas to keep them safe and engaged.

Transportation

  • Designated driver is a common term for someone assigned to ensure friends get home safely after drinking.
  • Many cities feature designated lanes for specific types of vehicles, such as buses or bicycles, for better traffic flow.
  • Airports often have designated pickup zones for arriving passengers, enhancing organization.

Pop Culture

  • The term has appeared in song lyrics, conveying themes of choice and assignment in relationships.
  • Movies often depict characters with designated roles in teams, highlighting the importance of each individual's contribution.
  • In popular video games, players often designate roles for their characters, which impacts strategy and gameplay.

Translations

Translations of the word "designated" in other languages:

🇵🇹 designado

🇮🇳 निर्धारित

🇩🇪 bestimmt

🇮🇩 ditentukan

🇺🇦 призначений

🇵🇱 wyznaczony

🇯🇵 指定された

🇫🇷 désigné

🇪🇸 designado

🇹🇷 belirlenmiş

🇰🇷 지정된

🇸🇦 محدد

🇨🇿 určený

🇸🇰 určený

🇨🇳 指定的

🇸🇮 določen

🇮🇸 tilnefndur

🇰🇿 белгіленген

🇬🇪 დანიშნული

🇦🇿 təyin olunmuş

🇲🇽 designado

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,130, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.