denomination

denomination — noun

1. a group of people within a larger faith who follow a particular tradition, often

1.nounB2
Definition

a group of people within a larger faith who follow a particular tradition, often with their own places of worship, leaders, and customs

Example

Caleb attends a Protestant denomination that meets in the old church on Elm Street.

denomination + of: specify which group

The pastor explained how each denomination interprets the religious text differently.

Common collocations
  • Christian denomination
  • Protestant denomination
  • belong to a denomination
  • members of a denomination
  • within a denomination
Synonyms
  • sect

    often carries a more critical or separatist tone than 'denomination'

  • branch

    more general; can refer to any division of an organization, not just religious

  • faith group

    less formal; emphasizes shared beliefs over organizational structure

Grammar Patterns

denomination + of + [religion]

Usage Note

Frequently used when describing branches within Christianity (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox), but also applies to other religions with distinct subgroups, such as branches of Islam or Buddhism.

Common Mistakes

Buddhism is a denomination of Eastern religion.
Buddhism is a religion; Zen Buddhism is one denomination within it.
'denomination' refers to a subgroup within a larger religion, not the religion itself.

2. the official value printed on a coin, banknote, or other currency item that show

2.nounB1
Definition

the official value printed on a coin, banknote, or other currency item that shows how much it is worth

Example

The cashier asked if Adaeze had a smaller denomination bill for the purchase.

collocation: small/large denomination

Yael collects coins of every denomination, from pennies to silver dollars.

coins of every denomination: all value types

Common collocations
  • small denomination
  • large denomination
  • various denominations
  • bills of all denominations
  • low-denomination coins
Synonyms
  • value

    more general; does not specifically refer to printed currency amounts

  • face value

    specifically the printed amount on a financial instrument; more technical

Grammar Patterns

denomination + of + [value]

[size] + -denomination + [noun]

Usage Note

Commonly appears in compound adjective form joined by a hyphen: 'large-denomination' or 'small-denomination' (e.g. 'a large-denomination banknote'). The preposition 'of' specifies the particular value ('bills of various denominations').

Common Mistakes

This shop only accepts one-hundred denominations.
This shop only accepts one-hundred-dollar bills.
'denomination' is the type or unit of value, not the bill or coin itself.

3. a formal name or title given to a person, place, object, or idea within a system

3.nounC1
Definition

a formal name or title given to a person, place, object, or idea within a system of classification

Example

The island received the denomination 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean' from early traders.

received the denomination + [name]: formal naming

In official records, the building carries the denomination 'Municipal Government Hall'.

Common collocations
  • carry the denomination
  • receive the denomination
  • under the denomination
  • denomination of
Synonyms
  • designation

    similar formality; often implies an official or technical label

  • title

    more common than 'denomination'; may imply rank or position

  • appellation

    even more formal and literary; rare in everyday use

Grammar Patterns

the denomination + of + [name]

carry the denomination + [title]

Usage Note

A formal or technical choice; in everyday conversation, 'name' or 'title' is far more natural. Typically encountered in academic, historical, or official classification contexts.

Common Mistakes

What is the denomination of your cat?
What is the name of your cat?
'denomination' is too formal for everyday naming of ordinary things.

Word family

  • denominational
    adjectiveB2
  • denominationalism
    nounC2
  • denominate
    verbC2
  • denominator
    nounB1
  • denominationally
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

'Value' is the broadest term, covering the general concept of how much something is worth in any context. 'Face value' specifically refers to the amount printed on a coin, bill, or financial document — it is what the item says it is worth, which may differ from its actual market worth. 'Worth' is more subjective and can refer to actual market value or personal importance. 'Denomination' differs from all three because it categorises the type of monetary unit within a system: a $5 bill and a $10 bill have different denominations but both have a face value. In everyday usage, you ask 'What denomination is this bill?' when you want to know its stated value, not its purchasing power.

value ↗face valueworth ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • of the same denomination
  • of all denominations
  • across denominations

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word comes from Latin 'dēnōminātiō', meaning 'a calling by name'. It was formed from 'dē-' (down, from) and 'nōmināre' (to name), which came from 'nōmen' (name). The term entered English through Old French. Its earliest meaning in English was simply 'a naming' or 'a name', but by the 1600s it had developed the sense of 'a distinct group within a larger body' — referring first to religious subgroups, then later to monetary units by the 1800s.