[adjective] [after noun; not gradable]Designate is used after the title of a particular job, esp. an official one, to refer to the person who has been chosen to do that job, but has not yet started doing it.the Governor/Prime Minister/Secretary General designate.Compare elect.
DESIGNATE
Meaning of DESIGNATE in English
Cambridge English vocab. Кембриджский английский словарь. 2012