What does designate mean?
Designate is a formal verb meaning to officially choose someone or something for a particular purpose, role, or status. A council may designate a building as a historic landmark, an employer may designate a spokesperson, and a group of friends may designate one member to drive on a night out. The word can also mean simply to indicate or point something out clearly, as when a legend on a map designates different types of terrain. Derived from the Latin designare, meaning 'to mark out' or 'to plan,' it carries connotations of deliberate, authoritative selection rather than casual choice. In British usage, designate can also function adjectivally after a noun — a 'governor designate' is someone appointed but not yet installed. Because it signals formality and intentionality, designate is especially at home in legal, political, bureaucratic, and organisational writing, where precision about who holds which role matters.
verbTo officially choose or appoint someone or something for a particular purpose or role. Also, to indicate or specify something clearly.
- To officially select or appoint someone or something for a specific purpose or role.
- To indicate, mark out, or specify something clearly.
"The board designated her as the next chairperson."
"The council designated the old warehouse as a heritage site."
"In her speech, she used a red pen to designate the key passages."
Before you were ever called a 'designated driver,' the word designate was busy marking out sacred Roman boundaries — it comes straight from Latin designare, 'to mark out.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of designate
Designate derives from the Latin verb designare, formed from de- ('out, thoroughly') plus signare ('to mark, sign'), literally meaning 'to mark out' or 'to indicate.' It entered English in the early 17th century, initially carrying senses of indicating and marking out before developing its modern sense of formal appointment. It shares its root with words such as design, designation, signify, and signal, all tracing back to the Latin signum, meaning a mark or sign.
Related word forms
How designate is actually used
Formal in register; common in official, legal, and administrative contexts. When used with a person's new title, it often follows the noun postpositively (e.g. 'director designate'), meaning appointed but not yet in office.
Easily confused with designate
"Nominate" means to propose someone for a position or honour that still requires confirmation, while "designate" means to formally select or appoint them, often already final.