# named

/ˈneɪmd/ (US) · /nˈeɪmd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 2. having a name

adjective · CEFR B1

having a specific name or being mentioned by name.

For teachers: possessing a name; specifically identified or designated by a proper noun.

- The book was dedicated to a woman named Sarah.
- The report cited several named sources within the department who were willing to testify about the budget cuts.

### 3. programming argument

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

in computer coding, a piece of information passed to a function using its specific name.

For teachers: describing an argument passed to a subroutine or function based on its identifier rather than its ordinal position in the call.

- Using named arguments makes your code much easier for other people to read.
- The developer refactored the function to use named parameters, ensuring that the complex configuration remained legible even as more options were added.

Usage: Usually appears before the noun 'argument' or 'parameter'.

## Examples

- They named their new puppy Max.
- The committee named her the lead researcher for the upcoming environmental study.
- The variable is named 'total_count' to ensure that any developer reading the source code immediately understands its specific function within the loop.

---

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.