# appointment

/əˈpɔɪntmənt/ (US) · /ɐpˈɔɪntmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/appointment
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a scheduled meeting

noun · CEFR B1

an arrangement to meet someone at a specific time and place.

For teachers: a formal arrangement to meet at a designated time and place, typically for professional, medical, or official purposes.

- I have a dentist appointment at three o'clock this afternoon.
- The consultant had to reschedule several morning appointments after her flight was delayed by heavy fog.

Usage: Commonly used with the verbs 'make', 'keep', 'break', or 'reschedule'.

### 2. choosing someone for a job

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the act of choosing someone for an official position or job.

For teachers: the act of designating a person for a non-elective office or position of responsibility.

- The president announced the appointment of a new judge today.
- The board's appointment of a new chief executive was met with approval from the majority of shareholders.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'of' (the person) or 'to' (the position).

Teaching tip: This sense is much more formal than the 'meeting' sense and is common in news and business contexts.

### 3. a professional position

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a job or position that someone has been chosen for.

For teachers: the position or office to which a person has been appointed.

- She held a senior academic appointment at the university for ten years.
- His latest diplomatic appointment requires him to relocate to the embassy in Brussels for a three-year term.

Usage: Usually refers to high-level or prestigious roles in government, academia, or medicine.

### 4. fittings or equipment

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

the furniture or decorations in a room or building.

For teachers: the equipment, furnishings, or decorative fittings of a place, especially when high-quality.

- The hotel was famous for its luxurious appointments and antique furniture.
- The yacht featured mahogany appointments and custom-made leather seating throughout the main cabin.

Usage: Almost always used in the plural form 'appointments'.

Teaching tip: This is a rare, high-level sense often found in real estate descriptions or classic literature.

## Examples

- I have a dentist appointment at three o'clock.
- Please call the office if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment with the consultant.
- The committee announced the appointment of a new director to oversee the legal department's transition to digital record-keeping.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.