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assignment

uh-SYNE-muhnt /əˈsaɪnmənt/

nounB1TOEFLIELTS

academicgeneral

A task or piece of work allocated to someone as part of a job or course of study.

Often implies a specific task given by an authority figure (teacher, manager) with a clear objective.

The story behind the word. The word 'assignment' comes from the Old French 'assignement', which meant 'an appointment, an assigning'. This, in turn, derived from the Latin 'assignare', meaning 'to mark out, allot by sign, appoint'. So, when you get an assignment, it's literally a task that has been 'marked out' or 'appointed' for you.

Word relationships

task: More general; can be self-imposed or given.
homework: Specifically for school, often less formal or complex than an 'assignment'.
project: Often larger, more complex, and involves multiple stages.

Commonly confused with

chore: A chore is usually a routine, often unpleasant, household task, not an academic or professional one.

Word family

assign (verb): To allocate a task or duty to someone.
assignable (adjective): Capable of being assigned.

Collocations

research assignment
group assignment
reading assignment
take on an assignment
complete an assignment

Example sentences

"My literature professor gave us a challenging research assignment due next Friday." A student discussing their coursework.
"The final assignment for this course will be a 15-page essay on a topic of your choice." From a university syllabus.

Memory hook

An ASSIGNMENT is a SIGN that you have work to do. Sign of work

When not to use

Do not use 'assignment' for a general task you choose to do yourself; 'task' or 'project' might be more appropriate.

Fun facts

In legal contexts, 'assignment' can refer to the transfer of rights or property from one person to another.

Related words

deadline, submit, workload

Explore more words

commission, allocate, do homework, mandate, give permission, delegate