appointments

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ap•point•ment /əˈpɔɪntmənt/   n. 

1. an agreement for a meeting arranged in advance:
   [countable] We made an appointment to meet again.
   [uncountable] You can visit the museum by appointment.
2. Government the act of appointing or choosing, as to an office or position:
   [uncountable] the appointment of the chairman.
3. Government an office to which a person is appointed:
   [countable] an appointment as ambassador.
4. Usually, appointments. [plural] equipment, furnishings, or furniture:
   [countable] the handsome appointments of the castle.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ap•point•ment  (ə point′mənt), n. 

1. a fixed mutual agreement for a meeting;
   engagement:
   We made an appointment to meet again.
2. a meeting set for a specific time or place:
   I'm late for my appointment.
3. Government the act of appointing, designating, or placing in office:
   to fill a vacancy by appointment.
4. Government an office, position, or the like, to which a person is appointed:
   He received his appointment as ambassador to Italy.
5. Usually, appointments. equipment, furnishings, or accouterments.
6. appointments, accouterments for a soldier or a horse.
7. Sport [Manège.] a horse-show class in which the contestant need not be a member of a hunt but must wear regulation hunt livery. Cf. Corinthian (def. 9).
8. [Archaic.] decree;
   ordinance.

• Middle French ap(p)ointement. See appoint, -ment
• late Middle English apoynt(e)ment 1375–1425

Synonyms

• 1, 2. assignation, rendezvous, tryst, date.
• 4. Appointment, office, post, station all refer to kinds of duty or employment.
  Appointment refers to a position to which one is assigned, as by a high government official.
  Office often suggests a position of trust or authority.
  Post is usually restricted to a military or other public position, as of a diplomat, although it may also refer to a teaching position. Both post and station may refer to the place where a person is assigned to work.