/ ˌdezɪgˈneɪʃn; NAmE / noun ( formal )
1.
[ U ] ~ (as sth) the action of choosing a person or thing for a particular purpose, or of giving them or it a particular status :
The district is under consideration for designation as a conservation area.
2.
[ C ] a name, title or description :
Her official designation is Financial Controller.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense the action of marking ): from Latin designatio(n-) , from the verb designare , based on signum a mark.