What does reappointment mean?
Reappointment is the formal act of appointing someone to a position again after an earlier appointment has ended or expired. It is especially common in institutional settings such as courts, universities, governments, and businesses, where an official may be chosen for another term. The word can suggest continuity, renewed confidence, and preservation of an existing arrangement, but it may also attract political or public debate when the decision concerns a controversial figure. “Appointment” by itself can describe the first selection or any formal assignment to a role; “reappointment” specifically emphasizes that the person has already held the position and is being appointed again. The related verb is “reappoint,” with the standard inflected forms “reappointed” and “reappointing.”
nounThe act of appointing someone again to a position or office, especially when the person has already been appointed and is being confirmed for another term.
- The act of appointing someone again to a position or office.
- The renewal or extension of someone's appointment, often for a further term.
"The judge received a reappointment to the court for a further five years."
"The president's reappointment was approved by the governing council."
"Her reappointment as chair of the committee came after several months of discussion."
The plural is used when referring to multiple separate acts of appointing someone again.
"The tribunal approved the reappointments of several senior judges."
Reappointment turns a single act of selection into a story of continued trust, often carrying the political weight of renewal, approval, or resistance.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reappointment come from?
Reappointment was formed in English by combining the prefix re-, meaning “again,” with appointment, meaning the act of appointing or assigning someone to a role. The word appointment itself derives from the verb appoint, ultimately from Latin apponere, formed from ad- “to” and ponere “to place.” The prefix re- and the Latin-derived root have cognate parallels in related English forms such as reappoint and appointment.
Related word forms
How reappointment is actually used
Common in formal and institutional contexts, especially for judges, officials, executives, academics, and members of organizations whose appointments are renewed periodically. It can imply that the person already holds the post.
Easily confused with reappointment
An appointment is the act of assigning someone to a position, while a reappointment is the act of assigning that person to the position again, usually for another term.