‘Their draft code urges each organisation to set up and publish details of a system for dealing with complaints; and to appoint or designate a member of staff to act as ombudsman.’
‘If the parent is fit to take care of a child, here in family court, you designate that parent as the guardian.’
‘Financial experts suggest consulting a professional to create a detailed estate plan, which will put in writing where you want assets to go and designate a family member, relative, or trusted adult to execute it.’
‘Since local phone lines are often down or congested during natural disasters, designate family members in other parts of the country as contacts to track the status and location of those affected.’
‘If possible in your family situation, designate someone to gather and disseminate expert news from the internet.’
‘Ask your folks to prepare or update a will and designate a family member to handle medical and financial affairs.’
‘An indorsement in blank is one in which the indorser does not designate a specific person as the one to whom the bill is to be payable.’
‘We are now planning to designate one person in the company to undergo the stipulated training instead of all the directors.’
‘On most shows, the producers designate someone - often, themselves - as the judges.’
‘Thus, you have no right to designate some person to initiate force against others on your behalf.’
‘So designating the father as the titular head of the family seemed to compensate in small measure for this power imbalance.’
‘The person reached by telephone was asked whether he or she could speak for the family or if he or she would designate someone else.’
‘The captain designates people to that position in the hopes of improving the ship's moral.’
‘The contractor must designate a competent person to assess the excavation and determine that it is safe for project personnel to enter and work.’
‘When selling small valuables, such as jewelry, it's best to designate one person to watch over the table.’
‘Power of attorney is a legal device in which an elder will designate another person to act in his or her stead.’
‘The president has signed a military order, designating me, as secretary of defense, to be responsible for a military commission or tribunal, in the event one is required.’
‘Each group is led by a facilitator and views and ideas of the group are recorded by one designated member.’
‘In many parts of the country, gays and lesbians could not designate their partners as beneficiaries under employee medical and dental benefits, insurance policies or private pensions.’
‘The president should not designate a prime minister for the political purposes of winning in the local elections or managing careers for a future presidential candidate.’
Appointed to an office or post but not yet installed.
‘the Director designate’
‘He was appointed director designate in February, but was originally not to take over until December.’
‘Much has been made of the suggestion that the supposedly moderate prime minister designate intends to disband the militias.’
‘Our cameras now take you to the Central Polling Office to hear from the Prime Minister designate.’
‘In a major shake-up of management, chief operations office becomes chief executive designate.’
‘Any company using less than their free allowance will be able to sell the balance under the scheme to which over 100 countries have signed up, including all EU states as well as the designate members.’
Origin
Mid 17th century (as an adjective): from Latin designatus ‘designated’, past participle of designare, based on signum ‘a mark’.
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