designado

Designado is the past participle of designar in Spanish and Portuguese, and is commonly used as an adjective meaning designated or appointed for a specific role. It describes a person who has been named or selected to assume a position in the future, but who has not yet taken office or begun duties.

In political contexts, designado is frequent in Latin American media and government discourse, for example designado presidente or designado ministro. The term signals a transitional status: the individual has been chosen to act as successor or interim holder, pending formal inauguration, approval, or installation.

The word is distinct from terms for actual achievement or formal appointment. Designado contrasts with electo, indicating someone not yet elected by voters, and with nombrado, indicating a person who has already been formally installed in a post. A designado may be the designated successor of a current officeholder or a temporary designation during a transition.

Etymology: designado derives from designar, which comes from Latin designare, meaning to mark out or designate. The concept is reflected across Romance languages, including Portuguese, where designado similarly denotes someone appointed to a future role. In everyday usage, designado can also function as a noun in some contexts, referring to the person who has been designated.

See also: designación, designar.