ascription

noun

as·​crip·​tion ə-ˈskrip-shən How to pronounce ascription (audio)
1
: the act of ascribing : attribution
2
: arbitrary placement (as at birth) in a particular social status

Examples of ascription in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Do people ascribe race to robots and if so, does the ascription of race to robots affect people’s behavior towards them? IEEE Spectrum, 17 July 2018 Today dishonest ascriptions of what biology is are being deployed to restrict women’s bodily autonomy, target LGBTQIA+ individuals broadly and, most recently, attack the rights of transexual and transgender people. Agustín Fuentes, Scientific American, 1 May 2023 The implicit and explicit patterns of numerical gender ascription were moderately correlated. Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 4 Aug. 2017 Not actual perfection but the ascription of it to sundry acts of daily life. Paula Marantz Cohen, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 Even if its intent were innocuous — to address inaccurate ascriptions to the Polish state for participating in an official capacity in Nazi crimes — the impact of this type of legislation is dangerous. Steny Hoyer, Time, 15 Mar. 2018 Black women who posit a feminism that exists for a purpose greater than the liberation of a single individual or gender ascription. Tunde Wey, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Dec. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ascription.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin ascription-, ascriptio, from Latin, written addition, from ascribere

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ascription was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near ascription

Cite this Entry

“Ascription.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ascription. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ascription

noun
as·​crip·​tion ə-ˈskrip-shən How to pronounce ascription (audio)
: the act of ascribing : attribution

More from Merriam-Webster on ascription

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