Appellative

/əˈpɛləɪv/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or serving as a common name or title (like 'doctor' or 'teacher') rather than a proper name.

Etymology

From Latin 'appellativus' meaning 'relating to calling or naming,' derived from 'appellare' (to address or call).

Kelly Says

In linguistics, 'appellative' nouns are incredibly common—most words are appellatives, which is why 'Xerox' and 'Kleenex' companies fought hard to keep their brands from becoming generic appellatives.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.