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Definition of 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.

duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

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

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

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

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

Example Sentences

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'assignment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

see assign entry 1

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing assignment

  • self - assignment

Dictionary Entries Near assignment

Cite this entry.

“Assignment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assignment. Accessed 29 Aug. 2023.

Legal Definition

Legal definition of assignment, more from merriam-webster on assignment.

Nglish: Translation of assignment for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of assignment for Arabic Speakers

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Definition of 'assignment'

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assignment in American English

Assignment in british english, examples of 'assignment' in a sentence assignment, related word partners assignment, trends of assignment.

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In other languages assignment

  • American English : assignment / əˈsaɪnmənt /
  • Arabic : مُهِمَّة
  • Brazilian Portuguese : tarefa
  • Chinese : 任务
  • Croatian : zadatak
  • Czech : úkol
  • Danish : opgave
  • Dutch : opdracht
  • European Spanish : tarea
  • Finnish : tehtävä
  • French : mission
  • German : Aufgabe
  • Greek : ανάθεση
  • Italian : compito
  • Japanese : 割り当て
  • Korean : 임무
  • Norwegian : oppdrag
  • Polish : zadanie
  • European Portuguese : tarefa
  • Romanian : lucrare
  • Russian : задание
  • Spanish : misión
  • Swedish : uppdrag
  • Thai : งานที่ได้รับมอบหมาย
  • Turkish : görev ödev vb
  • Ukrainian : завдання
  • Vietnamese : nhiệm vụ

Browse alphabetically assignment

  • assigned randomly
  • assigned risk
  • assimilability
  • assimilable
  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'A'

Related terms of assignment

  • seat assignment
  • tough assignment
  • writing assignment
  • challenging assignment
  • difficult assignment
  • View more related words

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Meaning of assignment in English

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  • It was a jammy assignment - more of a holiday really.
  • He took this award-winning photograph while on assignment in the Middle East .
  • His two-year assignment to the Mexico office starts in September .
  • She first visited Norway on assignment for the winter Olympics ten years ago.
  • He fell in love with the area after being there on assignment for National Geographic in the 1950s.
  • act as something
  • all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy) idiom
  • be at work idiom
  • be in work idiom
  • housekeeping
  • in the line of duty idiom
  • join duty idiom
  • sweat over something

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

assignment | American Dictionary

Assignment | business english, examples of assignment, collocations with assignment.

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COMMENTS

  1. Assignment Definition & Meaning

    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

  2. Assignment definition and meaning

    (əˈsaɪnmənt ) noun 1. something that has been assigned, such as a mission or task 2. a position or post to which a person is assigned 3. the act of assigning or state of being assigned 4. law a. the transfer to another of a right, interest, or title to property, esp personal property assignment of a lease b. the document effecting such a transfer

  3. Assignment

    An assignment is a task that someone in authority has asked you to do. The word assignment is just the noun form of the common verb assign, which you use when you want to give someone a duty or a job. When you assign something, that something is called an assignment. The word can also refer to the act of distributing something.

  4. Assignment definition in American English

    assignment in American English. (əˈsainmənt) noun. 1. something assigned, as a particular task or duty. She completed the assignment and went on to other jobs. 2. a position of responsibility, post of duty, or the like, to which one is appointed. He left for his assignment in the Middle East.

  5. ASSIGNMENT

    assignment meaning: 1. a piece of work given to someone, typically as part of their studies or job: 2. a job that…. Learn more.

  6. ASSIGNMENT

    the process of giving a particular job or piece of work to someone, or of sending someone to a chosen place to do a job: assignment of the various tasks Fewer examples It was a jammy assignment - more of a holiday really. He took this award-winning photograph while on assignment in the Middle East.