appellation

noun

ap·​pel·​la·​tion ˌa-pə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: an identifying name or title : designation

was entitled to the appellation "doctor"

2

: a geographical name (as of a region, village, or vineyard) under which a winegrower is authorized to identify and market wine

also : the area designated by such a name

3

archaic : the act of calling by a name

Did you know?

Ask a Frenchman named Jacques his name, and you may very well get the reply, "Je m'appelle Jacques." The French verb appeler means "to call (by a name)," so Jacques' answer literally translates to "I call myself Jacques." Knowing the function of appeler makes it easy to remember that appellation refers to the name or title by which something is called or known. Appeler and appellation also share a common ancestor: Latin appellāre, meaning "to call upon, name, or designate," formed by combining the prefix ad- ("to") with another verb, pellere ("to beat against, push, or strike"). Appellāre is also the root of English's appeal (by way of Anglo-French and Middle English), as well as appellate, which is used to indicate a court where appeals are heard.

Synonyms

• appellative
• cognomen
• compellation
• denomination
• denotation
• designation
• handle
• moniker
• monicker
• name
• nomenclature
• title

Examples of appellation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rita Hills Chardonnay, which is sourced from four different vineyards within the appellation. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2024

Common among those individuals worthy of the exalted appellation is a temptation to vacate, in view of unacceptable compromise, the industry’s fraught financial space. —Jeff Gibson, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024

Coming from one of the most famous French wine regions, the Bordeaux appellation is known for bold reds bursting with fruit, and is found in the world's finest wine cellars. —Jaymi McCann, theweek, 29 Oct. 2024

This is also true for the appellation if Champagne wants to maintain its status as the exceptional wine that has earned its reputation. —J'nai Gaither, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English appellacyon, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French appellacion, borrowed from Latin appellātiōn-, appellātiō "name, designation, noun, appeal," from appellāre "to speak to, address, apply to for support, refer to a higher authority, call upon, name, designate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action; in sense 2 borrowed from French, going back to Middle French — more at appeal entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

appellation

noun

ap·​pel·​la·​tion ˌap-ə-ˈlā-shən 

: an identifying or descriptive name or title