What does labelled mean?
Labelled describes something that has been given a label in order to identify, mark, or classify it. The label may be physical, as on a specimen, package, or piece of equipment, or informational, as in labelled data or a labelled diagram. The word can also indicate an official or public description: to label something controversial, insecure, or revolutionary is to characterize it in that way, often with implications that others may challenge the description. As a verb, “labelled” describes the act of attaching such identifying information or assigning a name or category. It is especially common in technical, scientific, educational, and administrative contexts, where clear labelling helps distinguish items, communicate their purpose, or record relevant properties. In British and Commonwealth English, “labelled” is conventionally spelled with two l’s, while American English normally uses “labeled.”
Marked, identified, or classified by means of a label or a particular name or description.
"The researcher photographed the labelled samples for the catalogue."
In British and Commonwealth English this is the standard spelling; “labeled” is used in American English.
To attach a label to something, or to identify or characterize it by a specified name or description.
"Technicians labelled each cable before installing it."
The past participle and past-tense form are “labelled” in British and Commonwealth English and “labeled” in American English.
In Britain, “labelled” has long been the conventional spelling; across the Atlantic, “labeled” is the standard form.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does labelled come from?
“Labelled” was formed in English by adding the participial ending “-ed” to the noun and verb “label.” “Label” entered Middle English from Old French and originally referred to a strip, tag, or piece of material bearing an identifying inscription. The present double-l spelling of “labelled” is characteristic of British usage, although the form with one l is also found in older English.
Related word forms
How labelled is actually used
The spelling “labelled” is standard in British and Commonwealth English, while “labeled” is standard in American English. In expressions such as “labelled as a failure,” the word can imply that a characterization is disputed or unfair.