Appointment vs. Reservation: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Appointment refers to a pre-arranged meeting, often with a professional; Reservation means booking a service or space in advance.
Key Differences
An appointment is typically a mutually agreed-upon time for a meeting, often involving services like medical, legal, or professional consultations. A reservation, on the other hand, usually pertains to securing a spot at a facility or service, such as a table at a restaurant or a hotel room, often without a mutual agreement on the exact nature of the service.
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Nov 27, 2023
Appointments are more time-specific, focusing on a precise slot for a meeting or service, requiring both parties to be present at the set time. Reservations, while also time-bound, are often more flexible and focused on ensuring availability rather than a specific interaction at a specific time.
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Nov 27, 2023
Appointments generally carry a formal or professional connotation, implying a one-on-one interaction with a specific individual or professional. Reservations are often less personal, usually made with an establishment rather than an individual, and can be for various purposes like dining, travel, or accommodation.
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Nov 27, 2023
An appointment usually requires confirmation from both parties and might involve penalties or rescheduling procedures in case of cancellation. Reservations, depending on the context, can often be canceled or modified with more flexibility and might not always require personal confirmation.
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Nov 27, 2023
Comparison Chart
Nature
Specific meeting time with an individual or professional.
Booking of a service or space in advance.
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Nov 27, 2023
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Flexibility
Typically strict, requiring adherence to the set time.
Often more flexible, with varying cancellation policies.
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Interaction
Personal, often one-on-one with a professional.
Impersonal, generally with an establishment or service.
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Nov 27, 2023
Purpose
Professional services, consultations, meetings.
Securing a spot, e.g., hotel, restaurant, travel.
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Nov 27, 2023
Confirmation
Requires mutual agreement and often confirmation.
May not require personal interaction or confirmation.
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Nov 27, 2023
Appointment and Reservation Definitions
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Appointment
Official Designation
Her appointment as the ambassador was widely applauded.
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Nov 27, 2023
Reservation
Securing a Spot
Our hotel reservation is confirmed for next weekend.
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Nov 27, 2023
Appointment
Job Position
She accepted an appointment as a university lecturer.
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Nov 27, 2023
Reservation
Travel Arrangement
They got their flight reservation two months in advance.
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Nov 27, 2023
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Appointment
Arrangement for Services
He made an appointment for car maintenance next week.
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Nov 27, 2023
Reservation
The act of reserving; a keeping back or withholding
The reservation of the right to use the property.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
Set Time with a Professional
I need to reschedule my dentist appointment.
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Nov 27, 2023
Reservation
A limiting qualification, condition, or exception
Accepted with the reservation that she would have to leave early.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
The act of appointing or designating someone for an office or position.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
Often reservations A doubt or misgiving
Has reservations about the proposal.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
A tract of land set apart by the federal government for a special purpose, especially one for the use of a Native American people.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
An arrangement to do something or meet someone at a particular time and place.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
An arrangement by which accommodations are secured in advance, as in a hotel or restaurant or on an airplane.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
The act of reserving, withholding or keeping back.
The committee authorised the reservation of funds.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
(Law) The act of directing the disposition of property by virtue of a power granted for this purpose.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
The practice of reserving part of the consecrated bread of the Eucharist for the communion of the sick.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
The act of appointing a person to hold an office or to have a position of trust
His appointment as treasurer was deemed suitable.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
The act of the pope to reserve to himself the right to nominate to certain benefices.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
The state of being appointed to a service or office; an office to which one is appointed
The appointment of treasurer
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
A limiting qualification regarding certainty; a doubt.
I have reservations about your intentions.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
An arrangement between people to meet; an engagement.
They made an appointment to meet at six.
I'm leaving work early because I have a doctor's appointment.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
(US) A tract of land set apart by the US government for the use of a Native American people; Indian reservation (compare Canadian reserve).
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
(religion) Decree; direction; established order or constitution.
To submit to the divine appointments.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
An arrangement by which accommodation or transport arrangements are secured in advance.
I have a hotel reservation in the name of Mr Smith.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
(law) The exercise of the power of designating (under a power of appointment) a person to enjoy an estate or other specific property; also, the instrument by which the designation is made.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
(UK) The area which separates opposing lanes of traffic on a divided motorway or dual carriageway; see also central reservation.
A vehicle crashed through the central reservation into the path of oncoming traffic.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
(government) The assignment of a person by an official to perform a duty, such as a presidential appointment of a judge to a court.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
(India) The setting aside of a certain percentage of vacancies in government institutions for members of backward and underrepresented communities (defined primarily by caste and tribe).
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
A power of an overseeing authority to suspend legislation in the jurisdiction being overseen pending the approval of a higher authority. Such as a provincial/state governor reserving a bill passed by the state/provincial legislature from assent, pending approval of the federal government; or a federal bill passed by federal parliament being reserved by the viceroy pending approval by the crown.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
(US) An honorary part or exercise, as an oration, etc., at a public exhibition of a college.
To have an appointment
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
The act of reserving, or keeping back; concealment, or withholding from disclosure; reserve.
With reservation of an hundred knights.
Make some reservation of your wrongs.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
Something withheld, either not expressed or disclosed, or not given up or brought forward.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
The act of appointing; designation of a person to hold an office or discharge a trust; as, he erred by the appointment of unsuitable men.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
A tract of the public land reserved for some special use, as for schools, for the use of Indians, etc.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
The state of being appointed to som service or office; an office to which one is appointed; station; position; an, the appointment of treasurer.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
Stipulation; agreement; the act of fixing by mutual agreement. Hence:: Arrangement for a meeting; engagement; as, they made an appointment to meet at six.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
A clause in an instrument by which some new thing is reserved out of the thing granted, and not in esse before.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
Decree; direction; established order or constitution; as, to submit to the divine appointments.
According to the appointment of the priests.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
The portion of the sacramental elements reserved for purposes of devotion and for the communion of the absent and sick.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
The exercise of the power of designating (under a "power of appointment") a person to enjoy an estate or other specific property; also, the instrument by which the designation is made.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
An agreement to have some space, service or other acommodation, as at a hotel, a restaurant, or on a public transport system, held for one's future use; also, the record or receipt for such an agreement, or the contractual obligation to retain that accommodation; as, a hotel reservation; a reservation on a flight to Dallas; to book a reservation at the Ritz.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
Equipment, furniture, as for a ship or an army; whatever is appointed for use and management; outfit; (pl.) the accouterments of military officers or soldiers, as belts, sashes, swords.
The cavaliers emulated their chief in the richness of their appointments.
I'll prove it in my shackles, with these handsVoid of appointment, that thou liest.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
An allowance to a person, esp. to a public officer; a perquisite; - properly only in the plural.
An expense proportioned to his appointments and fortune is necessary.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
A statement that limits or restricts some claim;
He recommended her without any reservations
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
A honorary part or exercise, as an oration, etc., at a public exhibition of a college; as, to have an appointment.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
An unstated doubt that prevents you from accepting something wholeheartedly
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
The act of putting a person into a non-elective position;
The appointment had to be approved by the whole committee
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
The act of reserving (a place or passage) or engaging the services of (a person or group);
Wondered who had made the booking
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
A meeting arranged in advance;
She asked how to avoid kissing at the end of a date
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
The written record or promise of an arrangement by which accommodations are secured in advance
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
(usually plural) furnishings and equipment (especially for a ship or hotel)
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
Something reserved in advance (as a hotel accommodation or a seat on a plane etc.)
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
The act of keeping back or setting aside for some future occasion
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Oct 19, 2023
Appointment
The job to which you are (or hope to be) appointed;
He applied for an appointment in the treasury
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
Holding Space
We have a reservation for 20 people at the banquet hall.
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Nov 27, 2023
Appointment
(law) the act of disposing of property by virtue of the power of appointment;
She allocated part of the trust to her church by appointment
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Oct 19, 2023
Reservation
Service Assurance
Making a reservation ensures we'll have a table.
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Nov 27, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Are appointments always one-on-one?
Often, but group appointments, like family therapy, also exist.
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Nov 27, 2023
Are walk-ins considered appointments?
No, appointments require prior arrangement.
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Nov 27, 2023
Is a job offer an appointment?
In a professional context, yes, it's often referred to as an appointment.
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Nov 27, 2023
Do all reservations require payment upfront?
It varies; some require a deposit, others just a credit card guarantee.
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Nov 27, 2023
Can I make a reservation for a person?
Reservations are typically for services or spaces, not individuals.
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Nov 27, 2023
Are online reservations secure?
Generally, when done through reputable services.
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Nov 27, 2023
Is an appointment always professional?
Usually, but not exclusively; it often involves professional services.
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Nov 27, 2023
Can I cancel an appointment easily?
It depends on the policy of the professional or service provider.
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Nov 27, 2023
What's a last-minute reservation?
Booking made shortly before the service is required.
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Nov 27, 2023
Is a reservation the same as a booking?
Essentially, yes; both terms mean securing a service in advance.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 27, 2023
Can reservations be made for events?
Yes, like reserving seats for a concert or a conference.
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Nov 27, 2023
Can I delegate someone to attend my appointment?
Usually not, as appointments are person-specific.
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Nov 27, 2023
Do all doctors require appointments?
Most do, but some accept walk-ins for urgent care.
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Nov 27, 2023
Is an appointment confirmation always required?
Often, especially for professional services.
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Nov 27, 2023
Are restaurant reservations binding?
They're a commitment, but usually can be canceled.
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Nov 27, 2023
Do hotels always need reservations?
Not always, but reservations guarantee room availability.
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Nov 27, 2023
What is a no-show fee in reservations?
A charge for not honoring a reservation without canceling.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 27, 2023
Can I have multiple appointments in a day?
Yes, as long as times do not overlap.
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Nov 27, 2023
Are reservations needed for public transport?
For some services, like trains or planes, yes.
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Nov 27, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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