denomination

[dih-nom-uh-ney-shuhn]

noun

1. a religious group, usually including many local churches, often larger than a sect.

   the Lutheran denomination.

2. one of the grades or degrees in a series of designations of quantity, value, measure, weight, etc..

   He paid $500 in bills of small denomination.

3. a name or designation, especially one for a class of things.

4. a class or kind of persons or things distinguished by a specific name.

5. the act of naming or designating a person or thing.

denomination

/ dɪˌnɒmɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. a group having a distinctive interpretation of a religious faith and usually its own organization

2. a grade or unit in a series of designations of value, weight, measure, etc

   coins of this denomination are being withdrawn

3. a name given to a class or group; classification

4. the act of giving a name

5. a name; designation

Other Word Forms

• denominational adjective
• denominationally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of denomination¹

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English denominacioun “name, designation; act of naming or designating,” from Latin dēnōminātiōn- (stem of dēnōminātiō “calling something by other than its proper name, substitution, metonymy,” equivalent to dēnōmināt(us) + -iōn-; denominate, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of denomination¹

C15: from Latin dēnōminātiō a calling by name; see _denominate

Example Sentences

I’m a Christian — well, I don’t know if you’d technically call it a Christian — I just believe in God, I don’t really have a denomination.

From Los Angeles Times

Southerners wrote elaborate polemics describing Southern society as the natural heir to Athens and Rome, and Southern Protestant denominations split off from their Northern coreligionists, claiming the Bible sanctioned slavery.

From Salon

Of those, 30% identified as Catholics, the largest share of any denomination.

From Los Angeles Times

The policy involved the confiscation of trillions of old naira notes and their replacement with new notes for the highest denominations.

From BBC

Meanwhile, Nairobi's Catholic Archbishop Philip Anyolo says clarity is urgently needed about the type of structure being built, otherwise it might be seen to favour one Christian denomination over others.

From BBC

Related Words

• church 
• creed 
• cult 
• faith 
• persuasion 
• religion 
• sect