What does consigned mean?
Consigned is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'consign', which has two main senses. Its literal sense means to hand something over into the care of another — goods may be consigned to a shipper, or merchandise consigned to a shop that sells it on the owner's behalf. Its more common figurative sense means to relegate something or someone to a place or condition, usually a final or undesirable one: outdated technology is consigned to the scrapheap, failed policies are consigned to history, and painful memories are consigned to the past. The word derives from the Latin 'consignare', to mark with a seal, and retains a formal, somewhat weighty tone; one rarely consigns anything pleasant anywhere. This dual character — practical logistics on one side, rhetorical dismissal on the other — makes it a versatile verb in both business writing and literary prose.
verb (past tense and past participle of 'consign')Consigned is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'consign', meaning to hand over or deliver something or someone to another's custody, or to relegate something to a place or condition, especially an undesirable one.
- To hand over or deliver something into the custody of another, as in commerce or transport.
- To relegate something or someone to a place, state, or condition, typically an inferior or final one.
"The old manuscripts were consigned to the archive's basement, unlikely to be seen again for decades."
"The exporter consigned the goods to a freight company in Rotterdam."
"With the arrival of streaming, the video rental store was effectively consigned to history."
To be 'consigned to oblivion' literally means handed over to being forgotten — the word carries shipping paperwork in its DNA.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of consigned
Consign comes from the Latin 'consignare', formed from 'con-' (together) plus 'signare' (to mark or seal), originally meaning to affix a seal as proof of authenticity. It entered English via French 'consigner' around the mid-16th century, first in the sense of sealing or certifying a document, later developing its senses of formally handing over goods and relegating things to a fate. It shares its root with English words such as 'sign', 'signal', 'signature', and 'assign'.
Related word forms
How consigned is actually used
Formal to semi-formal register. In commercial use it refers to delivering goods for sale or shipment; in figurative use ('consigned to oblivion') it often carries a dismissive or elegiac tone. The past form functions as both finite verb and participle.
Easily confused with consigned
'Cosigned' means signed jointly with another person (as on a loan), while 'consigned' means handed over or relegated.