What Does “Appointment” Mean? Definitions, Synonyms and Usage

The two main meanings

1. A time arranged to meet someone or receive a service. This is the everyday sense: “I have a dentist appointment at 3,” or “The office is open by appointment.” You make, book, schedule, keep, cancel, reschedule or miss an appointment.

2. Being chosen for a job or position. “Her appointment as director was announced on Monday.” Here, someone appoints a person, who becomes the appointee. Many government offices are filled this way. The U.S. Constitution, for example, says the President “shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint” ambassadors, Supreme Court judges and other officers. See appointed officials explained.

Specialist uses

• Law: a power of appointment is a legal right, usually in a will or trust, to decide who receives certain property. If this matters to you, ask a lawyer.
• Furnishings: in older or formal English, a building’s appointments are its fittings and furniture — a “well-appointed room” is nicely furnished.

Synonyms and when to use them

• meeting — a general word for people getting together, often at work.
• booking / reservation — a reserved slot for a service, table or room.
• consultation — a meeting to get professional advice.
• engagement — a formal arrangement, often professional or social; also used for performers.
• visit — common for medical care (“a doctor visit”).
• session — a period of a service, such as therapy or training.

For the job sense: nomination (proposing someone), designation, assignment or selection.

Common phrases

• By appointment only — you must book in advance; walk-ins aren’t served. See walk-ins vs. appointments for an example.
• Keep an appointment — attend it as planned.
• Make an appointment with / to see someone.
• Standing appointment — a recurring booking at the same time, such as every other Tuesday.

Grammar notes

“Appointment” is a countable noun: an appointment, two appointments. We usually say at an appointment (“I was at an appointment”) and for a time (“an appointment for 10 a.m.”). The verb is appoint; the person chosen is the appointee.

In culture

The word turns up in book and film titles — Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot mystery Appointment with Death is a well-known example — usually playing on the idea of a meeting that can’t be avoided. For abbreviations such as “appt”, see appointment abbreviations.