Appointment vs Fixture

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Appointment

Top 2,000 (common)B1noun

Fixture

Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
 AppointmentFixture
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/əˈpɔɪntmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈpɔɪntmənt/"]/🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɪkstʃə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfɪkstʃər/"]/
MeaningA planned meeting at a specific time.A thing that is fixed in a place and not meant to be moved.
ExampleI have a doctor appointment scheduled for tomorrow morning.There are plans to make the race an annual fixture.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB1C1
Part of speechnounnoun
Collocationsimportant, urgent, first, have, arrange, book, book, calendar, time, by appointment, with an appointment, without an appointment, key, formal, official, make, announce, confirm, process, appointment to, permanent, temporary, lifetime, hold, give somebody, offer somebodyimportant, major, difficult, play, fulfil, make something, list, fixture against, original, light, permanent, fixtures and fittings
Antonymscancellation, no-showremovable, flexible
Common mistakesConfuse 'appointment' with 'reservation' — appointments are for personal meetings., Use 'appoint' incorrectly — remember 'appointment' is the noun form., Omit the preposition 'with' when mentioning the person you're meeting.Confused with 'fixation' which means an obsession., Misused in plural form as 'fixtures' in contexts where only one item is referred., Assuming it only refers to sporting events without recognizing other meanings.
Usage notesUse 'appointment' in both formal and informal contexts, like scheduling a doctor's visit or a work meeting. It's not suitable for casual get-togethers with friends.Commonly used in contexts related to sports (e.g., fixtures in a schedule), real estate (e.g., light fixtures), and domestic settings. Less appropriate in casual conversation.

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Appointment

Frequently asked questions: Appointment vs Fixture

What's the difference between Appointment and Fixture?

Appointment: A planned meeting at a specific time. Fixture: A thing that is fixed in a place and not meant to be moved.

Which is more advanced: Appointment and Fixture?

Fixture is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Appointment and Fixture the same CEFR level?

Appointment: B1, Fixture: C1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Appointment and Fixture?

Appointment: noun, Fixture: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Appointment: I have a doctor appointment scheduled for tomorrow morning. Fixture: There are plans to make the race an annual fixture.

Can I use Appointment and Fixture interchangeably?

Not always. Appointment and Fixture are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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