label

A label is something that provides information about a product.

• The label on the bottle of medicine is hard to read.
• Can you read this label for me, please?
• What does the label say?
• You have to read the label to know what’s inside the product.

labeled food

• Do you read the nutrition label before making a purchase?
• In the United States, all food products have to have a nutrition label.

nutrition label

Sometimes this word is used as a verb:

• The company hasn’t labeled the product yet.
• This jar was labeled incorrectly.
• The student was labeled as having an attention deficit disorder.

Most people reject the idea of having a label placed on them, but it’s something that is done when a person is in a situation that is outside the norm or different from the status quo*:

• Sandra doesn’t like being labeled as a "cancer survivor."
• Religious people hate to hear their own religion labeled in any way that is negative.
• Henry rejected the label that was given to him by the other kids at school.
• It’s not polite to label other people.

*status quo: an existing situation; a condition that is regarded as regular.

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September 12, 2013