Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of designating someone for a position or role: The action of officially choosing and naming a person for a job or duty.
   • A job or position to which someone is assigned: The specific role or office that a person is formally given.
   • An arrangement to meet someone at a specific time and place: A pre-arranged meeting or engagement.
   • (Usually plural) Furnishings or equipment: Items provided for a specific purpose, especially for a room, ship, or hotel.
   • (Law) The act of disposing of property by a power granted in a legal document: The allocation of property from a trust or estate by an appointed person.

Usage and Examples

• As an act of designating:

  • The appointment of the new director was announced yesterday.
  • His appointment to the committee was a wise decision.

• As a job or position:

  • She accepted an appointment as professor of economics.
  • The ambassadorial appointment is for a term of three years.

• As a pre-arranged meeting:

  • I have a dental appointment at 3 PM.
  • He made an appointment to see the manager.

• As furnishings (plural):

  • The hotel's appointments were luxurious and modern.
  • The cabin's simple appointments included a bed and a desk.

Advanced Usage

• "By appointment": According to a formal arrangement; often used to indicate that services (e.g., for a professional or a royal audience) are available only through prior arrangement.

  • The designer sees clients by appointment only.
  • Her Majesty will receive visitors by appointment.

• "To keep an appointment": To go to or attend a meeting as scheduled.

  • It is important to keep your appointment with the lawyer.

• "To break an appointment": To fail to attend a scheduled meeting.

  • He had to break his appointment due to an emergency.

Variants and Related Words

• Appoint (verb): To assign a job or role to someone; to decide on a time or place for something.
  • The board will appoint a new chairperson.
• Appointee (noun): A person who is appointed to a position.
  • The new appointee will start next month.
• Reappointment (noun): The act of appointing someone again to the same position.
  • The committee voted for his reappointment.

Synonyms

• Assignment: A task or position one is given.
• Engagement: A formal arrangement to meet or do something.
• Designation: The action of choosing someone for a role.
• Installation: The formal process of placing someone in a new position of authority.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "A plum appointment": A very desirable job or position.
  • The ambassadorship to France is considered a plum appointment.
• "At one's appointment": According to the time one has arranged.
  • The consultant will see you at your appointment.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The meaning is highly context-dependent. In a professional context, it usually refers to a job position. In daily life, it most commonly refers to a scheduled meeting (e.g., doctor's appointment). The plural form "appointments" often refers to furnishings or a series of meetings.

Noun

1. (law) the act of disposing of property by virtue of the power of appointment
   • she allocated part of the trust to her church by appointment
2. the job to which you are (or hope to be) appointed
   • he applied for an appointment in the treasury
3. a person who is appointed to a job or position
4. (usually plural) furnishings and equipment (especially for a ship or hotel)
5. a meeting arranged in advance
   • she asked how to avoid kissing at the end of a date
6. the act of putting a person into a non-elective position
   • the appointment had to be approved by the whole committee