Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

appellative

Noun

/əˈpɛl.ə.tɪv/

Definition

An appellative is a noun that refers to a common name used to categorize or describe a class of objects, individuals, or concepts, rather than a specific individual or unique name.

Examples

In linguistics, ‘dog’ is an appellative, while ‘Fido’ is a proper noun.
Most appellative terms are used to group similar items under a shared label.

Meaning

The term ‘appellative’ is often used in linguistic discussions to denote generic names as opposed to proper names, highlighting a distinction in naming conventions.