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Meaning & use

label

noun, verb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈleɪbəl/
US/ˈleɪbəl/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A piece of paper, fabric, or other material attached to an object that gives information about it.

    Grammar: Countable; attach a label to something, or sew/stick a label on it.

    Patterns

    • a price/warning label
    • read the label
    • attach a label to something

    Check the label before you wash the sweater.

    The warning label says to keep the medicine away from children.

    She sewed a name label into the jacket.

  2. nouncountable

    A word or phrase used to describe or categorize a person or thing, often unfairly or too simply.

    Grammar: Countable; often put a label on someone or give someone a label.

    Patterns

    • a label for someone
    • put a label on someone
    • a misleading label

    He hated the label 'disabled' and wanted to be seen as a person first.

    It is unfair to put a label on a child after one mistake.

    'Alternative' is just a marketing label, not a real musical style.

  3. verbtransitive

    To attach a label to an object, or to mark something with written information.

    Grammar: Takes an object: label something (with something). US spelling labeled/labeling; British English doubles the l (labelled/labelling).

    Patterns

    • label something
    • label something with something
    • be labeled

    She labeled all the boxes before the move.

    Each specimen was carefully labeled with the date and place.

    He labeled the files by year so he could find them quickly.

  4. verbtransitivedisapproving

    To describe or categorize someone with a word or phrase, often unfairly or in a way that oversimplifies.

    Grammar: Two patterns: label someone as something, or label someone something.

    Patterns

    • label someone as something
    • label someone something
    • unfairly labeled

    The newspapers labeled him a failure after the scandal.

    Teachers should not label students as lazy before understanding their problems.

    She was unfairly labeled a troublemaker for asking questions.

Word forms

plural (noun)labels
third person singular (verb)labels
past tense (verb)labeled
past participle (verb)labeled
-ing form (verb)labeling

Common combinations

care label
The care label says to wash the coat in cold water.
warning label
The warning label on the bottle lists possible side effects.
read/follow the label
Always read the label before taking the medicine.
designer label
She saved up to buy a bag with a famous designer label.
label someone as something
It is wrong to label teenagers as irresponsible.
shipping label
The shipping label showed the wrong address, so the parcel was returned.

Synonyms and how they differ

tag
A smaller physical label, often of card or plastic, used for prices and luggage.
sticker
A label with glue on the back that you peel off and stick onto something.
brand
As a verb, similar to label someone as, but stronger and very public, often damaging the person's reputation.

Word family

labeling noun
The act or system of attaching labels; the British spelling is labelling.
mislabel verb
To label something wrongly or with a false description.

Commonly confused: label or libel?

label vs libel

A libel is a false written statement that damages someone's reputation; a label is simply a tag or a name given to something.

Practice

The newspapers labeled him ___ a hero after the rescue.

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