English Reference
noun

denomination

n.
US /dɪˌnɔməˈneɪʃən/ UK /dɪnˌɒmɪnˈeɪʃən/ de·nom·i·na·tion UK spelling denomination's, denomination's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Religion

    a specific branch or group within a larger religion.

    a recognized autonomous branch of a church or religion.

    Simple

    The town has churches representing several different Christian denominations.

    In context

    Ecumenical dialogues often face challenges when addressing the deep-seated theological differences between various Protestant denominations.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical

    the face value of a coin, banknote, or postage stamp.

    a specific unit of value in a system of currency, weights, or measures.

    Simple

    The machine only accepts banknotes in small denominations like five or ten dollars.

    In context

    Following the period of hyperinflation, the central bank issued new currency in much higher denominations to facilitate daily transactions.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Formal

    a formal name or title for a group or class of things.

    a name or designation, especially one serving to classify a set of individuals or objects.

    Simple

    The scientific denomination for this species has changed several times.

    In context

    The committee debated whether the current denomination accurately reflected the diverse functions of the newly formed department.

The Amish, a Christian denomination and a three-century-old ethnic group of German migrants known for its strict lifestyle standards, are one of the fastest-growing minority populations in the U.S.

Phys.org· 12 Aug 2026

They trained ministers and teachers for the denominations that funded them.

The Conversation· 4 Aug 2026

From Middle English denominacioun, from Old French denominacion, from Latin dēnōminātiō. By surface analysis, denominate + -ion.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin dēnōminātiō
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated