What does nominated mean?
Nominated means formally proposed or selected for a role, position, award, or other honour. It is the past tense and past participle of nominate, and it is also used as an adjective, as in “a nominated candidate” or “a nominated film.” The word is especially common in political and institutional contexts, such as electing officers, choosing representatives, and recognising artistic or academic achievement. A nomination does not necessarily mean that the person or work was chosen or won the award; it means that an official selection process put the name forward. In everyday conversation, nominate can sound deliberate and formal, whereas “choose” may suggest a simpler or more personal decision. The word comes from the Latin nominare, meaning “to name” or “call by name,” which explains its long connection with naming candidates and assigning distinctions.
Formally propose or select someone or something for a position, role, award, or honour.
"The committee nominated two people to serve on the board."
As the past tense and past participle of nominate, it can also appear in passive and perfect constructions.
Officially proposed or selected for a position, role, award, or honour.
"The nominated candidates presented their plans to the public."
This use is especially common in elections, awards, and formal appointments.
Nominated comes from the Latin word for “to name,” so every nomination begins with putting a name forward.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nominated come from?
English “nominate” comes from Latin nominare, meaning “to name” or “call by name.” The form “nominated” is the regular English past tense and past participle of that verb. The Latin root nomin- also appears in related English words such as nominal, nomination, nominative, and denomination.
Related word forms
How nominated is actually used
The word is formal and common in elections, appointments, awards, and institutional decisions. A nomination generally indicates that someone has been officially proposed, not necessarily that they have won or will receive the position.
Easily confused with nominated
“Nominated” means formally proposed or selected for a role or honour, whereas “nominal” means existing in name or appearance but not necessarily in practice.