Appointees

/əˌpɔɪnˈtiːz/ noun

Definition

People who have been chosen or assigned to a specific job or position by someone in authority.

Etymology

From Old French 'apointer' meaning 'to arrange or settle,' derived from Latin 'ad-' (to) and 'punctum' (point). The suffix '-ee' marks the person receiving the action. The term evolved from medieval administrative language for those designated to official posts.

Kelly Says

The word 'appointee' reveals how language tracks power—only people WITH authority can create appointees, which is why you never see the word used for people who choose their own jobs. It's a linguistic marker of hierarchy.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

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