rigid designator: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowFormal, Academic, Technical (Philosophy)
Quick answer
What does “rigid designator” mean?
A philosophical term, coined by Saul Kripke, referring to a word or phrase that designates (refers to) the same object in all possible worlds in which that object exists. Its reference is fixed by an initial 'baptism' and does not change based on descriptions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A philosophical term, coined by Saul Kripke, referring to a word or phrase that designates (refers to) the same object in all possible worlds in which that object exists. Its reference is fixed by an initial 'baptism' and does not change based on descriptions.
In broader academic discourse, it may be used to discuss concepts of reference, identity, and meaning in logic, philosophy of language, metaphysics, and theoretical linguistics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or use. The term is international academic jargon. Spelling remains 'rigid designator' in both.
Connotations
None beyond its technical meaning.
Frequency
Equally rare and confined to identical specialist contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “rigid designator” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun/Name] is a paradigm case of a rigid designator.A rigid designator refers to the same entity in all possible worlds.The term 'rigid designator' was introduced by Kripke in 'Naming and Necessity'.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rigid designator” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The rigid designator account of names is dominant.
- He offered a rigid-designator analysis of the term.
American English
- Kripke's rigid designator theory changed the field.
- They debated the rigid-designator status of natural kind terms.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Exclusively used in philosophy, philosophy of language, logic, and theoretical linguistics seminars and publications.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
The primary context. Used in precise argumentation about reference, modality, and identity.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rigid designator”
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “rigid designator”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rigid designator”
- Using it in non-philosophical contexts.
- Confusing it with a definite description (e.g., 'the first man on the moon' is not rigid; 'Neil Armstrong' is).
- Thinking it applies only to proper names (Kripke argues some natural kind terms like 'water' or 'gold' also function as rigid designators).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is typically considered a non-rigid or flaccid designator. It refers to different people at different times and in different possible worlds (e.g., Biden, Trump, Obama, etc.). The proper name 'Joe Biden' is rigid.
In Kripke's original theory, names that fail to refer (like 'Santa Claus') are not considered rigid designators, as there is no object to which they are rigidly attached. Some subsequent theories treat them as 'rigid' in picking out nothing in all worlds.
It undermines the descriptive theory of names, supports necessary truths known a posteriori (like 'Hesperus is Phosphorus'), and is central to arguments about mind-body identity and essentialism.
Yes, essentially. A rigid designator is defined by its behaviour across possible worlds—it designates the same object in every world where that object exists. Without this modal (possibility-based) framework, the term loses its specific meaning.
A philosophical term, coined by Saul Kripke, referring to a word or phrase that designates (refers to) the same object in all possible worlds in which that object exists. Its reference is fixed by an initial 'baptism' and does not change based on descriptions.
Rigid designator is usually formal, academic, technical (philosophy) in register.
Rigid designator: in British English it is pronounced /ˌrɪdʒ.ɪd ˈdɛz.ɪɡ.neɪ.tə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌrɪdʒ.ɪd ˈdɛz.ɪɡ.neɪ.t̬ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a rigid metal name tag that is welded to one specific person. No matter what hypothetical situation (possible world) you imagine them in, the tag stays attached to that same person. That's a RIGID designator.
Conceptual Metaphor
REFERENCE IS AN ANCHOR (a rigid designator is anchored to its object); IDENTITY IS A FIXED POINT.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST example of a rigid designator?