assignment
C1Formal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A specific task or piece of work that someone is required to do, especially as part of their job, studies, or duty.
The act of assigning something to someone; the allocation or appointment of a person, resource, or responsibility to a particular role or function.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun. In computing, can refer to the operation of storing a value in a variable. In law, refers to the transfer of rights or property. The core concept is the distribution of a task or thing to a recipient.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. In British academic contexts, 'assignment' can sometimes overlap with 'coursework' or 'essay', while in US education, 'assignment' is the dominant term for set work.
Connotations
Slightly stronger institutional/formal connotation in UK English (common in work/education). In US English, it is a very standard, neutral term in both education and corporate contexts.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties. Possibly slightly more frequent in US educational discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
give someone an assignmentbe on assignment (for)assignment to + place/roleassignment of + object/responsibilitywork on an assignmentVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on assignment”
- “a plum assignment”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a specific project, role, or posting given to an employee. E.g., 'His new assignment is to lead the Asian market expansion.'
Academic
A piece of work (essay, report, problem set) given to a student to assess learning. E.g., 'The final assignment is due next Friday.'
Everyday
Any appointed task or chore. Less formal than in work/school. E.g., 'My assignment for the party is to bring the drinks.'
Technical
In programming, the act of setting a variable's value. In law, the transfer of a right or property.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The manager will assign the tasks tomorrow.
- They've assigned us a new project lead.
American English
- The teacher assigned a 10-page paper.
- I was assigned to the Boston office.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly derived. 'Assignably' is extremely rare and not standard.
American English
- Not commonly derived. 'Assignably' is extremely rare and not standard.
adjective
British English
- The assignable tasks were distributed.
- He has an assignable interest in the property.
American English
- The contract includes assignable rights.
- Is this seat assignable?
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher gave us a maths assignment.
- My assignment is to write my name.
- I have to finish my history assignment by Friday.
- His first assignment at the new job was very easy.
- The journalist was sent on assignment to report from the conflict zone.
- Completing the research assignment required using several academic journals.
- The assignment of blame in the corporate scandal was highly contentious.
- Her temporary assignment to the Paris branch lasted six months and involved complex negotiations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A SIGN is given to you in an ASSIGNMENT. Your manager or teacher assigns (gives a sign for) your task.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORK/TASKS ARE OBJECTS GIVEN (He handed me a tough assignment). RESPONSIBILITY IS A BURDEN (She was weighed down by her new assignment).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как 'ассигнация' (банкнота).
- Не всегда эквивалентно 'заданию' (может быть 'назначением на должность').
- В контексте программирования — 'присваивание', а не 'назначение'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'homework' interchangeably in all academic contexts (homework is typically smaller, regular tasks; assignments are larger).
- Misspelling as 'assigment' or 'assaignment'.
- Using with incorrect prepositions (e.g., 'assignment of' vs. 'assignment to').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'assignment' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Homework' refers broadly to work done at home, often routine. 'Assignment' is a specific, discrete task set by an authority, common in both education and professional contexts, and can be done anywhere.
Yes, especially a temporary or specific role. E.g., 'a two-year assignment in Japan' means a two-year posting or job role in Japan.
It is almost always countable. You have 'an assignment' or 'several assignments'. The uncountable use refers to the abstract act of assigning (e.g., 'the assignment of responsibilities').
Use 'to'. For example: 'Her assignment to the London office was confirmed.' For tasks, use 'on': 'He is working on his assignment.'
Collections
Part of a collection
Education
A2 · 50 words · School, studying and learning vocabulary.