label

/ˈleɪbəl/
a piece of paper or tag attached to something

She attached a label to the package before mailing it.

She added a tag to identify the package before sending it.


general

a piece of paper or tag attached to something to identify or describe it

The label on the bottle said 'organic.'

The tag on the bottle indicated it was organic.

Commonly used for identification in retail, shipping, and product packaging.

general

a category or classification assigned to something

The product was labeled as 'vegan.'

The product was categorized as 'vegan.'

Often used in marketing, nutrition, and product descriptions.

general

a descriptive term or phrase used to categorize or identify something

She was labeled as a 'rebel' by her peers.

She was categorized as a 'rebel' by her peers.

Can carry social or cultural connotations.

Collocations

price labela tag showing the cost of an itemwarning labela tag indicating potential dangerfood labela tag listing ingredients and nutritional information

Related Phrases

put a label on somethingphrase
to categorize or classify something
label someonephrase
to assign a descriptive term to a person

Pro Tip

Common Usage

'Label' is often used in everyday contexts, such as shopping or organizing items.

Gold Rule

Literal vs. Figurative

Be mindful of whether 'label' is being used to describe a physical tag or a metaphorical classification.

Word Origin

From Middle English 'labelle,' from Old French 'label,' meaning 'small strip of parchment or paper.'

Usage Notes

The word 'label' can be used both literally (as a physical tag) and metaphorically (as a classification).

Word Breakdown

lab
possibly from Old French 'labelle,' meaning 'small strip,' though the exact origin is uncertain
root
+
-el
a common suffix in Old French, often used to form diminutives
suffix
English Dictionary