# label

/ˈɫeɪbəɫ/ (US) · /lˈeɪbəl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. information tag

noun · CEFR B1

a small piece of paper, fabric, or plastic attached to something to give information about it.

For teachers: a slip of paper, cloth, or other material attached to an object to provide descriptive or identifying information.

- Always check the washing instructions on the label before you clean your new sweater.
- The shipping department ensures that every outgoing crate has a clear destination label to prevent logistical errors during transit.

### 2. social category

noun · CEFR B2

a word or phrase used to describe a person or group, often in a way that is too simple.

For teachers: a descriptive term or classifying phrase applied to a person or group, often carrying social or psychological implications.

- He dislikes the label 'troublemaker' because he was just asking difficult questions.
- Sociologists argue that applying a negative label to a student can influence their academic performance through a self-fulfilling prophecy.

### 3. record company

noun · CEFR B1

a company that records and sells music.

For teachers: a commercial brand or company that produces, distributes, and promotes musical recordings.

- The band signed a deal with a major label after their song went viral.
- Independent labels often provide artists with more creative freedom than the multinational corporations that dominate the industry.

### 4. computing/interface

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

text on a computer screen that explains what a button or box is for.

For teachers: a non-interactive user interface element that displays text to identify or describe another control.

- The label next to the text box says 'Enter your email address'.
- The developer updated the accessibility labels to ensure that screen readers could accurately describe the form's input fields.

### 5. to attach a tag

verb · CEFR B1

to put a piece of paper or a tag on something to give information.

For teachers: to affix a physical or digital tag to an object for identification or description.

- Please label your luggage clearly so it doesn't get lost at the airport.
- The laboratory technician carefully labelled each specimen jar with the date, time, and patient identification number.

### 6. to categorise someone

verb · CEFR B2

to describe someone or something using a specific word or category.

For teachers: to assign a person or thing to a category, often based on a single characteristic.

- It is unfair to label all teenagers as lazy just because of a few examples.
- Critics were quick to label the new policy as a failure before the government had even begun the implementation phase.

### 7. scientific tracking

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to add a special substance to something so that scientists can track it.

For teachers: to incorporate a radioactive or fluorescent substance into a molecule to track its progress through a system.

- The researchers labelled the cells with a glowing dye to see how they moved.
- By labelling the glucose molecules with carbon-14, the scientists were able to map the metabolic pathway in real time.

## Examples

- Check the label on the shirt for washing instructions.
- The shipping company requires a clear address label on every package to prevent delivery delays.
- While the record label provided the necessary funding for the studio sessions, the artist felt that their marketing strategy relied too heavily on outdated genre labels.

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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.