APPELLATIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does appellative mean? 

• APPELLATIVE (noun)
  The noun APPELLATIVE has 1 sense:

1. identifying word or words by which someone or something is called and classified or distinguished from others

  Familiarity information: APPELLATIVE used as a noun is very rare.

• APPELLATIVE (adjective)
  The adjective APPELLATIVE has 2 senses:

1. pertaining to or dealing with or used as a common noun

2. inclined to or serving for the giving of names

  Familiarity information: APPELLATIVE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• APPELLATIVE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Identifying word or words by which someone or something is called and classified or distinguished from others

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

appellation; appellative; denomination; designation

Hypernyms ("appellative" is a kind of...):

name (a language unit by which a person or thing is known)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "appellative"):

street name (an alternative name that a person chooses or is given (especially in inner city neighborhoods))

byname; cognomen; moniker; nickname; sobriquet; soubriquet (a familiar name for a person (often a shortened version of a person's given name))

form of address; title; title of respect (an identifying appellation signifying status or function: e.g. 'Mr.' or 'General')

title (an appellation signifying nobility)

Derivation:

appellative (inclined to or serving for the giving of names)

• APPELLATIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Pertaining to or dealing with or used as a common noun

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

noun (a content word that can be used to refer to a person, place, thing, quality, or action)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Inclined to or serving for the giving of names

Synonyms:

appellative; naming

Context example:

the appellative function of some primitive rites

Similar:

denotative; denotive (having the power of explicitly denoting or designating or naming)

Derivation:

appellative (identifying word or words by which someone or something is called and classified or distinguished from others)