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

Van Herpen joins a small clutch of brands that stage only one couture show a year, which include Balenciaga, Thom Browne and Maison Margiela, though only the latter is allowed to use the haute couture appellation that’s governed by strict rules. —Miles Socha, WWD, 15 Jan. 2025

While sandy soils are predominant in the appellation, loam and clay soils are also present throughout the zone, while marine deposits also exist. —Tom Hyland, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025

Top winemakers in Bourgueil, an appellation known for brilliant cabernet franc reds, voted last summer to push for a high-quality designation for their chenin blanc. —Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2025

While Maison Joseph Drouhin has always had a commitment to the environment, modern-day efforts began in 1988 with a conversion to organic agriculture across all of their vineyards, which today total 250 acres across 60 appellations. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 6 Jan. 2025

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