Word
annotation
Phoneticsan·no·ta·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌænəˈteɪʃən/
UK/ˌænəʊtˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01a written note
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Academic
n. a short note added to a book or document to explain a difficult part or add an opinion.
n. a critical or explanatory commentary added to a text. Countable in the sense of a single note; uncountable when referring to the practice.
“The student's copy of the play was full of helpful annotations in the margins.”
“The scholar provided a detailed annotation for each archaic term, ensuring the medieval manuscript remained accessible to modern researchers.”
02computing/data
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Computing Technical
n. extra information or labels added to data or computer code to help a machine or person understand it.
n. metadata or labels added to a document, program, or dataset to provide context or facilitate machine learning.
“The programmer added an annotation to the code to explain why the function was necessary.”
“Accurate image annotation is a critical step in training the neural network to recognize different types of vehicles in urban environments.”
03the act of adding notes
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Academic
n. the process of adding notes or labels to something.
n. the act or process of furnishing a text or dataset with explanatory notes or metadata.
“Annotation takes a long time but it makes the research much easier to follow.”
“The systematic annotation of the genome required years of collaborative effort from laboratories across the globe.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Each page features around 25 lines of Homeric text surrounded by extensive annotations.” “In the fast-growing field of data annotation, workers in a small city in south India train A.I.” Etymology
From Latin annotātiōnem, accusative singular of annotātiō (“remark, annotation”), from annotātus, perfect passive participle of annotō (“note down, remark”). Equivalent to annotate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/annotation