What does "denominate" mean?
Denomination, name, appellation.
Denominate
/dɪˈnɑ.mɪ.neɪt/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Denomination, name, appellation.
- Grammar: denominate is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: designate, call, dub, name.
- Useful contrasts: misname.
- Usage evidence: There is nothing, perhaps, more unfashionable, not to say mischievous, in the eyes of the present generation, than what they denominate Enthusiasm; a temper of mind, which they are disposed to treat with the greatest contempt, as altogether unworthy of the enlightened period in which we live.
How to use "denominate"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "denominate" 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 "denominate" 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 "denominate" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "denominate" 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 "denominate" is acting as adj, noun, verb 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 "designate" 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.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "denominate", 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 Denomination, name, appellation. obsolete
- 2 A noun derived from some other noun, a denominative. obsolete
"Aristotle […] thus […] writeth: Those [words] are called denominates, which haue the appellation of a name from some other […] as from Grammar, man is called a Grammarian."
Verb
- 1 To name; to designate.
"On the contrary thoſe other Paſſions, commonly denominated ſelfiſh, both produce different Sentiments in each Individual, according to his particular Situation; […]"
- 2 assign a name or title to wordnet
- 3 To express in a denomination (i.e., a monetary unit).
"Oil is denominated in dollars, so changes in the strength of the dollar affect oil prices everywhere."
Adjective
- 1 Having a specific name or denomination; specified in the concrete as opposed to abstract; thus, 7 feet is a denominate quantity, while 7 is mere abstract quantity or number. archaic, not-comparable
"So as I take it to bee denominate of the King of the Hebrewes, which is famous with you, and no Stranger to vs. For wee haue ſome Parts of his works, which with you are loſt; Namely that Naturall Hiſtory, which hee wrote of all Plants, from the Cedar of Libanus, to the Moſſe that groweth out of the Wall; And of all things that haue Life and Motion."
- 2 Denominated, named. not-comparable, obsolete
Antonyms
Example
"There is nothing, perhaps, more unfashionable, not to say mischievous, in the eyes of the present generation, than what they denominate Enthusiasm; a temper of mind, which they are disposed to treat with the greatest contempt, as altogether unworthy of the enlightened period in which we live."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "denominate"?
Common synonyms include: designate, call, dub, name, allude to, argue.
How do you use "denominate" in a sentence?
There is nothing, perhaps, more unfashionable, not to say mischievous, in the eyes of the present generation, than what they denominate Enthusiasm; a temper of mind, which they are disposed to treat with the greatest contempt, as altogether unworthy of the enlightened period in which we live.
How do you pronounce "denominate"?
Pronounced /dɪˈnɑ.mɪ.neɪt/.
Etymology
PIE word *h₁nómn̥ Inherited from Middle English denominat(e) (“named, called”), borrowed from Latin dēnōminātus, perfect passive participle of dēnōminō, see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3). By surface analysis, de- + nominate.