assignment

noun

as·​sign·​ment ə-ˈsīn-mənt 

1

: the act of assigning something

the assignment of a task

2

a

: a position, post, or office to which one is assigned

Her assignment was to the embassy in India.

b

: a specified task or amount of work assigned or undertaken as if assigned by authority

a homework assignment

3

law : the transfer of property

especially : the transfer of property to be held in trust or to be used for the benefit of creditors

Synonyms

• chore
• duty
• job
• task

Choose the Right Synonym for assignment

task, duty, job, chore, stint, assignment mean a piece of work to be done.

task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance.

charged with a variety of tasks

duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

the duties of a lifeguard

job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance.

the job of turning the company around

chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

every child was assigned chores

stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

a 2-month stint as a reporter

assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

a reporter's assignment

Examples of assignment in a Sentence

The students were given a homework assignment.

The reporter's assignment is to interview the candidate.

The reporter is here on an assignment.

The reporter is here on assignment.

The article discusses the recent assignment of senators to some of the more powerful committees.

her assignment to the embassy in India

the computer's assignment of a number to each image

She asked if she could change her seating assignment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Last year, in the wake of an independent investigation looking into the misconduct of the Cupertino City Council, Moore and fellow Councilmember Liang Chao were stripped of their committee assignments. —Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024

Studies show that students without an internet connection at home have a harder time than their peers, with roughly 17% unable to complete homework assignments. —Advertorial, Orange County Register, 6 Nov. 2024

Her diligence in completing assignments on time, paired with her willingness to offer help to her classmates, sets her apart. —Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024

During the pandemic, Fountain House members performed their work assignments exclusively online. —Allie Volpe, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see assign entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing assignment

• self-assignment

Legal Definition

assignment

noun

as·​sign·​ment

1

: the act of assigning

2

a

: a position, post, or office to which one is assigned

b

: a task assigned

3

: a present transfer of property or rights

— absolute assignment

: an assignment in which the transfer is complete and leaves the assignor with no interest in the property or right transferred

— assignment for the benefit of creditors

: assignment of property by a debtor to an assignee to be held in trust and used to pay off the debtor's debts

— assignment of income

: an assignment by one taxpayer to another of income for the purpose of avoiding taxes

— assignment of lease

: an assignment by a tenant of all of his or her remaining rights in a property under a lease compare sublease

— effective assignment

: an assignment by which the assignor's interest in the property or right being assigned is terminated and transferred to the assignee

— equitable assignment

: an assignment (as of property in which one has a future interest) that is not valid at law but that would be upheld in a court of equity

— general assignment

: an assignment for the benefit of creditors of all of a debtor's property to be distributed fairly to the creditors compare preference

— wage assignment

: an assignment by an employee by which an amount of his or her wages are transferred to another party (as a creditor) before the wages are paid to the employee compare garnishment