noun

annotation

an-uh-TAY-shun

Annotation (noun) means a note added to a text, diagram or image to explain or comment on part of it. Example: “Her annotations fill every margin of the paperback.”

noun

A note added to a text, diagram or image to explain or comment on part of it.

"Her annotations fill every margin of the paperback."

"The map carries an annotation explaining the shaded area."

The act or process of adding such notes, or of labelling data so it can be searched or used to train software.

"Annotation of the manuscript took three years."

"Most of the project budget went on data annotation."

technical In programming, a piece of metadata attached to code that tells a tool or framework how to treat it.

"The method is marked with an annotation that makes it run before every test."

How to Use Annotation

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA note added to something to explain it.

When to use it

Neutral; common in academic, publishing and technical contexts.

Memory tip

'Notation' means a system of symbols; 'annotation' means an explanatory note. They are not interchangeable.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

footnote → citation → notation →

Common pairings

marginal annotation annotated edition data annotation annotated bibliography

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Her _____ fill every margin of the paperback.

Etymology

From Latin annotatio, from annotare 'to mark', from ad- 'to' and nota 'mark'.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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note comment gloss marginalia labelling tagging marking up decorator attribute metadata tag

Related Words

line attention note message bill listen rule statement

Rhymes for annotation

region billion ablation allusion emulsion ideation novation abortion abrasion diffusion elocution extension

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an annotation and a footnote?

A footnote is a note printed at the foot of the page and tied to the text by a number, usually written by the author or editor for publication. An annotation is any explanatory note added to a text, including private notes a reader writes in the margin.

What is the difference between an annotation and a summary?

A summary condenses the whole of a text into a shorter version of it. An annotation is attached to a specific point in the text and adds something the text itself does not say, such as an explanation, a question or a cross-reference.

What is an annotated bibliography?

It is a list of sources in which each entry is followed by a short paragraph describing the source and assessing its usefulness. The annotations are what separate it from a plain reference list.

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