designate

USAGE SUMMARY

"designate" is a correct and usable word in written English.
The word means to officially select, appoint, or name a person or thing to a particular job, duty, or title. You can use it when you want to indicate that someone or something has been chosen for a specific purpose, responsibility, or title. For example: The school board designated Mr. Smith as the new principal.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

Other legal shortfalls include a failure to designate homophobic attacks with any special criminal designation, which racially motivated attacks, for example, do receive.

The Economist

In Glasgow, for instance, you could encompass all the schools that range in a sprawling north-east stretch from Glasgow Cross to the Baillieston lights and designate this worthy of special and accelerated government measures.

The Guardian - Opinion

In his first meeting with the Irish taoiseach as designate first minister of Northern Ireland, the veteran Democratic Unionist party leader revelled in the atmosphere of extraordinary goodwill generated by his party's decision to share power with Sinn Féin.

The Guardian

Of SNH's conservation proposals, he says: "How can they designate an area for wildcat preservation that doesn't actually have traces of any wildcats?

The Guardian - Opinion

"For example, the treasury department can announce a special, temporary regulatory regime for banks dealing with Somali money transfer organisations, or it can designate a public financial institution, such as a Federal Reserve Bank, to transfer funds abroad on behalf of [them]," it said.

The Guardian

"It's difficult to designate a specific point in time when they'll be able to do this," Austin said, offering instead "incremental" evidence of Kurdish success and an Iraqi division's advance toward Ramadi in support of a division already there.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

Whether galvanising the faithful at noisy rallies, or parleying with Brussels and Washington from remote Greek villages, the foreign minister and leader-designate of the ruling socialist party looks cool and unruffled.And yet he has reason not to be.

The Economist

And how much power will the Iraqis really have?Iyad Allawi, a Baathist leader in Europe who plotted against Saddam Hussein in the 1990s, is the prime minister-designate.

The Economist

Mr Leng abruptly announced his resignation as Rio's chairman-designate on February 9th.Whether the deal will go ahead now hinges on political considerations.

The Economist

The president-designate of the new European Commission, Romano Prodi, has already suggested that such an agency should be set up.

The Economist

The prime minister-designate made a few non-descript comments to media afterwards before hosting a news conference to announce his appointee for labour minister.Mr Sobotka will lead a tripartite coalition controlling 111 seats in the 200-seat chamber of deputies.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "designate" when you want to officially select or appoint someone or something for a specific role, duty, or purpose. For example, "The committee designated the park as a protected area."

Common error

While "designate" is a perfectly valid word, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "name", "choose", or "pick" in informal settings to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "designate" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object to complete its meaning, indicating the person or thing being selected or appointed. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is a usable word in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "designate" is a versatile transitive verb used to officially select, appoint, or name someone or something for a specific purpose. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Its frequency is high across various contexts, particularly in news, formal business settings, and science, but it's best to avoid it in very informal conversations. Consider alternatives like "appoint", "name", or "assign" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Remember to use "designate" when you need to express a formal or official selection process.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appoint

Focuses specifically on assigning someone to a role or position.

name

Emphasizes the act of giving something a particular title or label.

assign

Highlights the act of allocating a task or responsibility.

select

Suggests choosing from a range of options.

nominate

Implies formally proposing someone for a position.

delegate

Specifically refers to entrusting a task or responsibility to someone else.

entitle

Focuses on granting a right or privilege.

constitute

Used when something is officially established or created.

commission

Suggests formally ordering or authorizing something.

ordain

Implies a formal or ceremonial appointment, often in a religious context.

FAQs

How to use "designate" in a sentence?

Use "designate" when you want to officially select or appoint someone or something for a specific role, duty, or purpose. For instance, "The CEO will designate a successor before retiring."

What can I say instead of "designate"?

You can use alternatives like "appoint", "name", or "assign" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "designated as" or "designated to be"?

Both are acceptable. "Designated as" is more common, but "designated to be" is also grammatically correct and can be used to emphasize the future role or function.

What's the difference between "designate" and "nominate"?

"Designate" implies a final selection or appointment, while "nominate" refers to proposing someone for a position or role, which may or may not result in an actual appointment.