appointment
appointment
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling:
/əˈpɔɪntmənt/ (General American, Received Pronunciation)
a - /ə/ (schwa, unstressed, as in "about")
ppoint - /ˈpɔɪnt/ (as in "point" with 'p', primary stress)
ment - /mənt/ (as in "moment" without the first 'o')
Word Form Variations
Appointment" primarily functions as a noun.
Noun:
Singular: appointment
Plural: appointments
Related forms (but not direct variations of "appointment" itself):
Verb: appoint
Adjective: appointed
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A formal arrangement to meet someone at a particular time and place, especially for a professional purpose.
Synonyms: meeting, engagement, consultation, date, rendezvous, interview
Antonyms: cancellation, disengagement, absence, no-show
The act of officially choosing someone for a job, position, or office.
Synonyms: selection, designation, nomination, assignment, placement, commissioning
Antonyms: dismissal, termination, removal, discharge, rejection
A job or position that someone has been appointed to.
Synonyms: position, post, job, office, role, station
Antonyms: unemployment, vacancy
Equipment, furnishings, or fixtures provided in a building or room, especially if fixed or permanent. (Often used in the plural: "furnishings and appointments")
Synonyms: fitting, fixture, furnishing, accouterment (often plural)
Antonyms: bareness, emptiness
Examples of Use
Books:
"He had an appointment with destiny." (Common phrase, popularized by various authors, e.g., similar to the sentiment in T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land, 1922)
Newspapers:
"The President is expected to announce a new cabinet appointment by the end of the week." (The Washington Post)
Online Publications:
"Tips for making the most of your virtual doctor's appointment, from preparation to follow-up." (WebMD)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"I've got a very important appointment with a certain tailor, if you catch my drift." (Dialogue from a spy film, e.g., Kingsman: The Secret Service, 2014)
"Don't be late for your appointment with the Dark Lord!" (Common dialogue in fantasy video games, e.g., World of Warcraft, 2004-present)
"Just had my hair appointment and I'm loving the new look!" (User post on Instagram, May 2025)
General Public Discourse:
"I have a dentist appointment tomorrow morning."
"She was offered a new appointment as head of the department."
"Please confirm your appointment by replying to this text message."
"The luxurious hotel room featured exquisite appointments."
10 Quotes Using Appointment
"He had an appointment with destiny." (André Malraux, Man's Fate (La Condition humaine), 1933, widely paraphrased)
"The most important appointment you will ever keep is the one with yourself." (A widely used motivational saying in self-help and personal development)
"My only appointment is with love." (A common romantic sentiment found in songs and poetry)
"Do not be late for your appointment with greatness." (A common motivational phrase used in speeches and aspirational contexts)
"I have a very important appointment with a certain tailor, if you catch my drift." (Dialogue from spy films, e.g., Kingsman: The Secret Service, 2014)
"Life is a series of unexpected events; sometimes, even an appointment surprises you." (A general philosophical observation about unpredictability)
"He missed every appointment except the one with fate." (A common narrative trope in literature and film, highlighting inevitability)
"Never miss a good appointment with happiness." (A common aspirational quote encouraging seizing joy)
"This is a strictly business appointment, nothing more." (A common dialogue line in professional or dramatic settings)
"The President's first appointment was a briefing on national security." (A common journalistic phrase, reflecting reported fact in news coverage)
Etymology
The word "appointment" refers to a scheduled meeting or a job position, and its history shows a clear progression from being a "part" of a larger building.
It comes from the Old French word "appartement," which itself came from the Italian word "appartamento." These words meant "a private room" or "a set of rooms."
The Italian "appartamento" is derived from the Latin verb "appartire," meaning "to divide" or "to separate." This Latin verb is formed from "ad-" (to, at) and "partire" (to divide, from "pars," meaning a "part" or "portion"). So, the literal sense is a "divided part" or a "separated section" of a larger structure.
The word "appointment" entered the English language around the early 17th century (circa 1600s).
The first known use and meaning of "appointment" in English was very much in line with its Latin and French origins: a room or set of rooms forming part of a larger house or building, typically intended for a single person or family to live in. Initially, it might have referred to more grand private rooms within a palace or large mansion, but over centuries, its meaning broadened to the more common modern usage of a rented dwelling unit in a multi-story building.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Appointment
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using the word "appointment":
Keep an appointment (to attend a scheduled meeting)
Make an appointment (to arrange a scheduled meeting)
Break an appointment (to fail to attend a scheduled meeting)
Have an appointment with destiny (to be fated to experience a significant event)
By appointment only (requiring a scheduled meeting to visit or access)
Doctor's appointment (a common phrase for a medical consultation)
Hair appointment (a common phrase for a scheduled visit to a hairdresser)
A high appointment (a position of significant authority or importance)
An honorary appointment (a position given as an honor, often without pay)
Hold an appointment (to have a particular job or position)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of appointment from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
