noun

label

LAY-buhl

noun

A small tag, sticker, or printed note attached to something, giving information about it.

"She checked the label to see if the shirt could go in the dryer."

"The bottle's label listed all the ingredients."

A word or phrase used to categorise a person, group, or idea, sometimes in a way that oversimplifies them.

"He resented being given the label of 'troublemaker' after one bad day."

"Political labels rarely capture how complicated someone's views actually are."

A company that produces and distributes recorded music.

"The band signed with an independent label rather than a major one."

"Her label released the album two months earlier than planned."

verb

To attach a label to something, or to describe someone or something with a particular categorising term.

"Please label each box with its contents before the move."

"The media quickly labelled the incident a scandal."

How to Use Label

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA tag that identifies or categorises something, or the act of attaching such a tag — physically, socially, or as a record company.

Common mistake

Be careful using 'label' as a verb to describe people — it often carries a negative or reductive connotation, unlike neutral 'describe' or 'call.'

Common pairings

record label warning label label someone as

Word Forms

labeled past tense, labelled past tense, labels plural, labels singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “label” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She checked the _____ to see if the shirt could go in the dryer.

Etymology

From Old French label/lambel, "a strip of cloth or ribbon," ultimately from a Germanic word for a flap or rag — the same root that gives English "lap" and "lapel."

Synonyms

View more →

categorise compartmentalise peg pigeonhole

Related Words

throw group peg classify

Rhymes for label

Abel Babel Mabel Isabel Anabel Annabel Schnabel Christabel

See all rhymes for label →

People Also Searched

categorise compartmentalise peg pigeonhole throw group classify