denominate

/dɪˈnɒm.ɪ.neɪt/

//dɪˈnɒm.ɪ.neɪt// verb

"denominate" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“denominate” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
10
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To name; to designate.

Corpus desk

Index EN-denominate · denominate · English

denominate · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-MEGA 10 letters
  • VOW-5 5 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "D" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for denominate
PropertyValue
Headworddenominate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/dɪˈnɒm.ɪ.neɪt/
Letters10
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “denominate” in English

denominatefalls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

denominate is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb, transcribed /dɪˈnɒm.ɪ.neɪt/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for denominate in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: PIE word *h₁nómn̥ Inherited from Middle English denominat(e) (“named, called”), borrowed from Latin dēnōminātus, perfect passive participle of dēnōminō, see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3). By surface analysis, de- + nominate. The correct English form is denominate, spelled D-E-N-O-M-I-N-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To name; to designate.
  2. 2
    To express in a denomination (i.e., a monetary unit).

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how denominate appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. On the contrary thoſe other Paſſions, commonly denominated ſelfiſh, both produce different Sentiments in each Individual, according to his particular Situation; […]
  2. The ſecond [blast of the trumpet] they denominate the blaſt of exanimation; when all creatures both in heaven and earth ſhall die, or be annihilated, except thoſe which God ſhall pleaſe to exempt from the common fate.

Etymology

PIE word *h₁nómn̥ Inherited from Middle English denominat(e) (“named, called”), borrowed from Latin dēnōminātus, perfect passive participle of dēnōminō, see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3). By surface analysis, de- + nominate.

Synonyms

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "denominate"?
"denominate" is spelled D-E-N-O-M-I-N-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪˈnɒm.ɪ.neɪt/.
What does "denominate" mean?
As a verb, "denominate" means: To name; to designate.
How do you pronounce "denominate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "denominate" is /dɪˈnɒm.ɪ.neɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "denominate"?
PIE word *h₁nómn̥ Inherited from Middle English denominat(e) (“named, called”), borrowed from Latin dēnōminātus, perfect passive participle of dēnōminō, see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3). By surface analysis, de- + nominate. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list