appoint

Appoint is a verb meaning to designate someone for a position or task, or to determine a time or place for an event. In formal contexts, it often implies an official act by a person or body with authority, such as a government, board, or organization.

The noun form appointment refers to the act of appointing or to a scheduled meeting or engagement. The term derives from Middle English appointen, via Old French apointier, from Latin adponere, meaning to place or set.

Usage centers on formal designation. For example, a council may appoint a new director, or a committee may appoint a date for a meeting. Distinctions exist between appoint and related terms: to nominate is typically to propose a candidate, potentially pending final approval, while an appointment often denotes a completed or authorized designation. In some systems, appointments require confirmation, authorization, or adherence to statutory rules.

In law and government, appointments are often governed by statutes or rules that specify eligibility, terms of office, and methods of selection. In business and nonprofit organizations, appointment can refer to assigning an employee or member to a role, project, committee, or task. The concept is contrasted with elections, which involve a vote by constituents, and with vacancies created by resignations or retirements that are then filled by appointment. Overall, appointing is a formal act that fills roles or fixes plans through designated authority.