nomination
B2Formal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The act of officially suggesting someone or something for a position, role, or award.
The process or state of being put forward for consideration, selection, or election, often involving formal submission or endorsement.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a deverbal noun from 'nominate'. It focuses on the formal proposal stage, not the final selection (which is 'appointment' or 'election'). Can be used for people, films, books, awards, etc.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Slight preference for 'nominate for' (UK) vs. 'nominate to' (AmE) in some political contexts, but 'nomination for' is standard in both for awards/positions.
Connotations
Equally formal and procedural in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common and standard in formal registers (politics, awards, business) in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
nomination for [award/position]nomination to [committee/body]nomination as [role]nomination by [person/group]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on the shortlist (for nomination)”
- “a shoo-in for the nomination”
- “the nomination is in the bag”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The nomination of a new director to the board requires shareholder approval.
Academic
Her paper received a nomination for the prestigious research prize.
Everyday
We need nominations for the school's parent-teacher association by Friday.
Technical
The judicial nomination must pass through senate confirmation hearings.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The committee will nominate her for the award.
- I nominate you to chair the meeting.
American English
- The party will nominate him for president.
- Can I nominate someone for employee of the month?
adverb
British English
- Not applicable for this word family.
American English
- Not applicable for this word family.
adjective
British English
- The nominative case is used for subjects in some languages.
- He is the nominative shareholder on record.
American English
- This is the nominative fair use of the trademark.
- The nominative process is clearly outlined.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Her nomination was a big surprise.
- We need one more nomination for the class president.
- The actor was happy to receive his first Oscar nomination.
- You must submit your nomination before the deadline.
- After securing the party nomination, she focused her campaign on the national election.
- The film earned multiple award nominations, including Best Picture.
- His controversial nomination to the Supreme Court was debated fiercely in the senate hearings.
- The board's nomination committee is responsible for vetting all candidates for directorship.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the Oscars: a famous actor's NAME is put IN the list for the nomination.
Conceptual Metaphor
A RACE / CONTEST (e.g., 'front-runner for the nomination', 'race for the nomination').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'назначение' (appointment). 'Nomination' is the proposal; 'appointment' is the final decision. Use 'выдвижение (кандидатуры)' for 'nomination' in political/award contexts.
- Do not use 'номинация' in the sense of a prize category (e.g., 'Best Picture' is a category, not a nomination for a person).
Common Mistakes
- His nomination as the CEO was announced yesterday. (Incorrect if it's the final job; use 'appointment'.) Correct: His nomination for the CEO position was submitted to the board.
- Confusing 'nomination' (process) with 'candidate' (person).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'nomination' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'nomination' is the formal proposal or suggestion of someone for a position. An 'appointment' is the final act of giving someone that position. A person is nominated first and then, if successful, appointed.
Yes. While most common for people (for jobs, awards), it can also be used for things like films, books, or projects that are put forward for an award or consideration (e.g., 'The novel received a nomination for the Booker Prize').
Yes, it is a common and acceptable phrase meaning to put oneself forward as a candidate for a position or award, often where the rules allow it.
The direct verb is 'to nominate'. The related adjective is 'nominal' (in one sense meaning 'in name only') and the grammatical term 'nominative'.
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