consign
C1Formal, Business, Literary
Definition
Meaning
To send something to a person or place, especially for sale, storage, or disposal.
To assign or entrust something to a particular state, fate, or condition, often with a sense of finality or relegation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies handing over responsibility or relegating something to a less important status. Can carry a neutral, logistical meaning (sending goods) or a negative, fatalistic one (consigning to oblivion).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The verb 'consign' is used in both varieties. The related noun 'consignment' is common in retail contexts in both.
Connotations
Slightly more common in formal British writing with a literary or historical tone (e.g., 'consigned to history'). In American English, its business/logistics sense might be slightly more prominent.
Frequency
Low-to-medium frequency in both varieties, primarily in written and formal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
consign something to something/somebodyconsign somethingbe consigned to somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “consign something to the scrapheap”
- “consign to the dustbin of history”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to sending goods to an agent for sale, often on a commission basis (consignment sale).
Academic
Used in historical/literary analysis to describe relegating ideas or figures to a certain fate.
Everyday
Rare in casual speech. Might be used metaphorically (e.g., 'I consigned the old clothes to the charity shop').
Technical
Used in logistics and supply chain management for inventory transfer.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The museum will consign the artefact to secure storage.
- He felt his ideas were consigned to the rubbish bin by the committee.
American English
- The retailer consigned the unsold inventory to a liquidator.
- The team's poor performance consigned them to last place.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She consigned her old toys to the attic.
- The shop consigns furniture for local artists.
- The treaty consigned the conflict to the history books.
- Goods are consigned to our warehouse for quality checks.
- The critic's harsh review consigned the novel to obscurity.
- The company consigns surplus stock to auction houses abroad.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SIGN on a CONtainer being shipped: you CON-SIGN it to its destination.
Conceptual Metaphor
MOVING AN OBJECT TO A FINAL DESTINATION IS CONSIGNING IT; RELEGATING TO A CATEGORY IS CONSIGNING (e.g., to history).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как 'подписывать' (to sign).
- Не смешивать с 'designate' (назначать). Ближе по смыслу к 'передавать (на хранение/продажу)' или 'обрекать'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'They consigned the contract.' (Correct: 'They signed the contract.')
- Incorrect preposition: 'consign in history' (Correct: 'consign to history').
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does it mean to 'consign goods'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Assign' means to allocate a task or role. 'Consign' means to send or deliver something (often goods) or to relegate something to a particular state (e.g., consign to history).
Typically not for physically sending people. It is used metaphorically for people's fates (e.g., 'consigned to poverty'). It primarily applies to objects, ideas, or abstract concepts.
It is not a high-frequency, everyday word. It is more common in formal writing, business (logistics), and literary contexts.
A document accompanying a shipment of goods that details the contents and serves as a receipt. It is a standard term in transport and logistics.