consigned

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'consigned' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe the sending or entrusting of something or someone to a particular person or place, often for safekeeping. Example sentence: The painting was consigned to the art gallery for safekeeping.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Rather than consigned to history, she added, Berlusconi was still the man to lead Italy forward.

The Guardian

The error was minor, but 20 pages had to be consigned to the garbage bin.

The Guardian

The remarks make reference to Sevco Scotland, the name of the company who purchased the business and assets of Rangers in the summer, after the club was consigned to liquidation.

The Guardian - Sport

At the time of writing, the upper house – the Seanad – looks as if it is to be consigned to history with the polls showing a clear majority for abolition.

The Guardian - Opinion

But are these decisions an example of the customer always being right, or has a future Transparent been wrongly consigned to the scrapheap?

The Guardian

And yet Swann is already consigned to England's desert ghost team, elbows shredded, spirit frazzled by a Test career that saw him bowl 3,000 balls a year for five high-impact years (Vettori averaged half as many for New Zealand over 17).

The Guardian - Sport

Neither team has any players consigned to the naughty step.

The Guardian - Sport

Yelland vowed in an editorial: "The breast is yet to come!" If it is true that they were personally opposed, why – decades after Benny Hill was consigned to history – has no editor had the courage to axe Page 3 before now?

The Guardian

English With a Dialect had long since been consigned to a car boot sale, but if it was Devon they wanted I had a far more potent weapon: Eric and Bertha Mock.

The Guardian

Originally from Nottingham, Turner was signed to Notts County – despite being a Forest fan – aged 12, but was let go two years later, a frustrated striker consigned to the back line.

The Guardian - Sport

The complexities of all that could be enough to sap anyone's confidence, to keep a person not only consigned to the wings but crouching in the brace position under the desk.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "consigned" when you want to emphasize the act of entrusting something or someone to a specific destination or purpose. It often implies a formal or official transfer.

Common error

Avoid using "consigned" in informal contexts where a simpler word like "sent" or "gave" would be more appropriate. "Consigned" carries a sense of formality and officialdom.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "consigned" is as the past participle of the verb 'consign'. It is used to indicate that someone or something has been formally handed over or committed to a particular place or situation. Ludwig's analysis indicates that it is correctly used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "consigned" is a versatile verb form used to describe the act of entrusting or committing something to a specific place or purpose. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical usage is correct, and it commonly appears in news, formal business, and scientific contexts. While related to other terms like "entrusted" and "assigned", it often implies a formal or official transfer, with a nuance that goes beyond a simple 'sending'. When writing, consider this nuance to ensure that it fits your intent in the phrase to be constructed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entrusted

Focuses on the act of giving responsibility or care to someone.

assigned

Emphasizes the allocation of a task or duty.

relegated

Highlights the act of moving someone or something to a lower position or status.

committed

Implies dedicating something for a specific purpose or destination.

handed over

Suggests a transfer of possession or control.

shipped

Refers specifically to the transportation of goods.

transferred

Indicates a movement from one place or person to another.

delivered

Emphasizes the act of bringing something to a destination.

banished

Implies being forced to depart from a place.

sent

General term for causing something to go to another place.

FAQs

How to use "consigned" in a sentence?

You can use "consigned" to indicate the act of sending something to a particular place or person, especially for sale or safekeeping. For example: The artwork was "consigned" to the auction house.

What can I say instead of "consigned"?

You can use alternatives like "entrusted", "assigned", or "relegated" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "consigned to oblivion" or "assigned to oblivion"?

"Consigned to oblivion" is the more common and idiomatic phrase, indicating something has been completely forgotten or discarded. "Assigned to oblivion" is less frequently used.

What's the difference between "consigned" and "shipped"?

"Consigned" implies a formal handover or entrusting of goods, often for sale or storage, while "shipped" simply means to transport goods by any means. "Consigned" has a more specific legal or commercial nuance.