What does "assignment" mean?
The act of assigning; the allocation of a job or a set of tasks.
Assignment
/əˈsaɪn.mənt/ noun
noun ·Very common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of assigning; the allocation of a job or a set of tasks.
- Grammar: assignment is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: designation, a project, abalienation, academic assignment.
- Useful contrasts: cruises, deallocation, homework problem.
- Usage evidence: When will your assignment be completed?
How to use "assignment"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "assignment" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "assignment" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "assignment" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "assignment" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "assignment" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "designation" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "assignment", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of assigning; the allocation of a job or a set of tasks. countable, uncountable
"This flow chart represents the assignment of tasks in our committee."
- 2 the act of putting a person into a non-elective position wordnet
- 3 The categorization of something as belonging to a specific category. countable, uncountable
"We should not condone the assignment of asylum seekers to that of people smugglers."
- 4 the act of distributing something to designated places or persons wordnet
- 5 The categorization of something as belonging to a specific category.; The categorization of persons as belonging to the male or female sex. countable, uncountable
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 a duty that you are assigned to perform (especially in the armed forces) wordnet
- 7 An assigned task. countable, uncountable
"The assignment the department gave him proved to be quite challenging."
- 8 an undertaking that you have been assigned to do (as by an instructor) wordnet
- 9 A position to which someone is assigned. countable, uncountable
"Unbeknownst to Mr Smith, his new assignment was in fact a demotion."
- 10 the instrument by which a claim or right or interest or property is transferred from one person to another wordnet
- 11 A task given to students, such as homework or coursework. countable, uncountable
"Mrs Smith gave out our assignments, and said we had to finish them by Monday."
- 12 (law) a transfer of property by deed of conveyance wordnet
- 13 A transfer of a right or benefit from one person to another. countable, uncountable
"The assignment of the lease has not been finalised yet."
- 14 A document that effects this transfer. countable, uncountable
"Once you receive the assignment in the post, be sure to sign it and send it back as soon as possible."
- 15 An operation that assigns a value to a variable. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"When will your assignment be completed?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "assignment"?
Common synonyms include: designation, a project, abalienation, academic assignment, academic project, academic task.
How do you use "assignment" in a sentence?
When will your assignment be completed?
How do you pronounce "assignment"?
Pronounced /əˈsaɪn.mənt/.
Etymology
From Middle English assignement, from Old French assignement. By surface analysis, assign + -ment.