Enroll vs. Register: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on July 9, 2024
"Enroll" implies committing to a class, program, or organization, while "register" typically means officially entering personal details on a list or database, often for identification or permission.
Key Differences
"Enroll" and "register" are terms often used interchangeably, but they have subtle differences in meaning and use. To "enroll" generally implies becoming a member of a class, a course, a school, or an organization, typically with an implication of commitment to participating in an activity or program. It conveys a sense of engagement or undertaking. Conversely, to "register" is to record one’s name and other details on an official list or database, often for identification or gaining permission; it is a broader term and does not necessarily imply a future commitment or engagement.
While "enrolling" often involves an aspect of joining or participation, "registering" is often a prerequisite for participation. For example, one might register for a conference by providing personal details, and by doing so, they become enrolled as a participant. In this way, "register" is often a step in the process of "enrolling," signifying the act of signing up or booking, but without the implied continued participation or engagement inherent in "enroll."
"Enroll" is frequently used in educational contexts where commitment and participation are key, like enrolling in a university or a course. It implies a longer-term engagement and possibly adherence to rules and regulations of the institution or program. On the other hand, "register" can be used in various contexts such as registering a vehicle, a domain name, or for voting, focusing more on the act of officially listing or recording information, without an implied sustained engagement or adherence to a set of rules or norms.
In terms of context specificity, "enroll" has a more specific usage, predominantly related to education or organizations, signifying commitment and participation. In contrast, "register" is more versatile and can be applied across different domains and fields, often implying just the act of recording information on an official list without any commitment to participation.
The nuance between "enroll" and "register" can be subtle, and depending on the context, they may be used interchangeably. However, being aware of the nuances can help in utilizing the words more precisely, enabling clearer communication, especially in formal or academic settings.
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Comparison Chart
Implication
Committing to participation or membership
Recording personal details on a list or database
Usage Context
Education, organizations, courses
Various, including events, domains, vehicles
Commitment
Implies a level of commitment and participation
Does not necessarily imply commitment
Scope
More specific, implies ongoing engagement
Broader, focused on the act of listing
Precedence
Often follows the act of registering
Often a prerequisite to enrolling
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Enroll and Register Definitions
Enroll
To register formally as a participant or member.
Many students enroll in college immediately after high school.
Register
To make an impression or have a significant impact.
His comment didn’t register with the audience.
Enroll
To initiate or commence participation.
She chose to enroll in the new fitness program.
Register
To indicate or show a reading on a scale or dial.
The thermometer registered 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Enroll
To commit to joining a group or organization.
He decided to enroll in the community volunteer group.
Register
A formal or official recording of items, names, or actions.
Enroll
To undertake a course of study or activity.
They chose to enroll in an advanced mathematics course.
Register
A book for such entries.
Enroll
To sign up to become a member of an institution or a participant in a program.
I decided to enroll in a cooking class.
Register
An entry in such a record.
Enroll
To enter or register in a roll, list, or record
Enrolled the child in kindergarten.
Enroll the minutes of the meeting.
Register
The act of registering.
Enroll
To roll or wrap up.
Register
A device that automatically records a quantity or number.
Enroll
To write or print a final copy of; engross.
Register
(Computers) A part of the central processing unit used as a storage location.
Enroll
To place one's name on a roll or register; sign up
We enrolled in the army.
Register
An adjustable, grill-like device through which heated or cooled air is released into a room.
Enroll
(transitive) To enter (a name, etc.) in a register, roll or list
Register
A state of proper alignment
To be in register.
Enroll
(transitive) To enlist (someone) or make (someone) a member of
They were eager to enroll new recruits.
Register
Exact alignment of the lines and margins on the opposite sides of a leaf.
Enroll
(intransitive) To enlist oneself (in something) or become a member (of something)
Have you enrolled in classes yet for this term?
Register
Proper positioning of colors in color printing.
Enroll
To envelop; to enwrap.
Register
The range of an instrument or a voice.
Enroll
To insert in a roil; to register or enter in a list or catalogue or on rolls of court; hence, to record; to insert in records; to leave in writing; as, to enroll men for service; to enroll a decree or a law; also, reflexively, to enlist.
An unwritten law of common right, so engraven in the hearts of our ancestors, and by them so constantly enjoyed and claimed, as that it needed not enrolling.
All the citizen capable of bearing arms enrolled themselves.
Register
A part of such a range.
Enroll
To envelop; to inwrap; to involve.
Register
A group of matched organ pipes; a stop.
Enroll
Register formally as a participant or member;
The party recruited many new members
Register
A variety or level of language used in a specific social setting
Speaking in an informal register.
Writing in a scientific register.
Register
To enter in an official register.
Register
To enroll officially or formally, especially in order to vote or attend classes.
Register
To set down in writing
Registered the events of the day in his diary.
Register
To express or make known
Registered his dissatisfaction with the chef.
Register
To indicate (data). Used of an instrument or scale.
Register
To be indicated as
The earthquake registered 6.8 on the Richter scale.
Register
To give outward signs of; express
Her face registered surprise.
Register
To attain or achieve
Registered a new high in sales.
Register
To cause (mail) to be officially recorded and specially handled by payment of a fee.
Register
To adjust so as to be properly aligned.
Register
To place or cause placement of one's name in a register.
Register
To have one's name officially placed on a list of eligible voters.
Register
To enroll as a student.
Register
To have a list of gifts for preferred wedding presents, as at a store. Used of a couple.
Register
To be indicated on an instrument or a scale.
Register
To be shown or expressed, as on the face
The teacher's reprimand did not register on the students' faces.
Register
To make an impression; be recorded in the mind
The warning failed to register.
Register
To be in proper alignment.
Register
A formal recording of names, events, transactions, etc.
The teacher took the register by calling out each child's name.
Register
A book of such entries.
Register
An entry in such a book.
Register
The act of registering.
Register
A certificate issued by the collector of customs of a port or district to the owner of a vessel, containing the description of a vessel, its name, ownership, and other material facts. It is kept on board the vessel, to be used as evidence of nationality or as a muniment of title.
Register
One who registers or records; a registrar; especially, a public officer charged with the duty of recording certain transactions or events.
A register of deeds
Register
A distinct horizontal (or, more rarely, vertical) section of a work of art or inscription that is divided into several such sections.
Register
A device that automatically records a quantity.
Register
(telecommunications) The part of a telegraphic apparatus that automatically records the message received.
Register
(telecommunications) A list of received calls in a phone set.
Register
(computing) A small unit of very fast memory that is directly accessible to the central processing unit, and is mostly used to store inputs, outputs, or intermediate results of computations.
Register
(printing) The exact alignment of lines, margins, and colors.
Register
(printing) The inner part of the mould in which types are cast.
Register
(music) The range of a voice or instrument.
Register
(music) An organ stop.
Register
(linguistics) A style of a language used in a particular context.
My ex-boss used "let go", in the euphemistic register, when he sacked me.
Register
A grille at the outflow of a ventilation duct, capable of being opened and closed to direct the air flow.
Register
Clipping of cash register
Register
(transitive) To enter in a register; to enlist.
Register
(transitive) To sign-up, especially to vote.
Register
(transitive) To record, especially in writing.
Register
(ambitransitive) To buy the full version of trial software by providing one's details and payment.
This is a trial version, and will expire in 30 days. Please register!
Register
(transitive) To express outward signs.
Register
To record officially and handle specially.
Register
To make or adjust so as to be properly or precisely aligned.
Register
(intransitive) To place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register.
They registered for school.
Register
(intransitive) To make an impression.
Register
(intransitive) To be in proper alignment; to align or correspond exactly.
Register
(legal) To voluntarily sign over for safe keeping, abandoning complete ownership for partial.
Register
A written account or entry; an official or formal enumeration, description, or record; a memorial record; a list or roll; a schedule.
As you have one eye upon my follies, . . . turn another into the register of your own.
Register
A record containing a list and description of the merchant vessels belonging to a port or customs district.
Register
One who registers or records; a registrar; a recorder; especially, a public officer charged with the duty of recording certain transactions or events; as, a register of deeds.
Register
That which registers or records.
Register
A lid, stopper, or sliding plate, in a furnace, stove, etc., for regulating the admission of air to the fuel; also, an arrangement containing dampers or shutters, as in the floor or wall of a room or passage, or in a chimney, for admitting or excluding heated air, or for regulating ventilation.
Register
The inner part of the mold in which types are cast.
Register
The compass of a voice or instrument; a specified portion of the compass of a voice, or a series of vocal tones of a given compass; as, the upper, middle, or lower register; the soprano register; the tenor register.
Register
A stop or set of pipes in an organ.
Register
To enter in a register; to record formally and distinctly, as for future use or service.
Register
To enroll; to enter in a list.
Such follow him as shall be registered.
Register
To enter the name of the owner of (a share of stock, a bond, or other security) in a register, or record book. A registered security is transferable only on the written assignment of the owner of record and on surrender of his bond, stock certificate, or the like.
Register
To enroll one's name in a register.
Register
To correspond in relative position; as, two pages, columns, etc. , register when the corresponding parts fall in the same line, or when line falls exactly upon line in reverse pages, or (as in chromatic printing) where the various colors of the design are printed consecutively, and perfect adjustment of parts is necessary.
Register
An official written record of names or events or transactions
Register
(music) the timbre that is characteristic of a certain range and manner of production of the human voice or of different pipe organ stops or of different musical instruments
Register
A book in which names and transactions are listed
Register
(computer science) memory device that is the part of computer memory that has a specific address and that is used to hold information of a specific kind
Register
An air passage (usually in the floor or a wall of a room) for admitting or excluding heated air from the room
Register
A regulator (as a sliding plate) for regulating the flow of air into a furnace or other heating device
Register
A cashbox with an adding machine to register transactions; used in shops to add up the bill
Register
Record in writing; enter into a book of names or events or transactions
Register
Record in a public office or in a court of law;
File for divorce
File a complaint
Register
Enroll to vote;
Register for an election
Register
Be aware of;
Did you register any change when I pressed the button?
Register
Indicate a certain reading; of gauges and instruments;
The thermometer showed thirteen degrees below zero
The gauge read `empty'
Register
Have one's name listed as a candidate for several parties
Register
Show in one's face;
Her surprise did not register
Register
Manipulate the registers of an organ
Register
Send by registered mail;
I'd like to register this letter
Register
Enter into someone's consciousness;
Did this event register in your parents' minds?
Register
To record or enroll officially.
I had to register for the conference online.
Register
To enter or record on an official list or directory.
She went to the town hall to register her new vehicle.
Register
To sign up or apply formally.
He had to register his new domain name.
FAQs
Can "enroll" and "register" be used interchangeably?
They can be in some contexts, but "enroll" often implies commitment and participation, while "register" focuses on listing details.
Is "enroll" primarily used in educational contexts?
Yes, it is commonly used to refer to joining schools, courses, or programs.
Does "enroll" always follow "register"?
Often, as registering is usually a step in the enrollment process, but context matters.
Is "register" broader in scope?
Yes, it applies to various contexts like events, vehicles, voting, and more, not implying sustained engagement.
Can "register" imply commitment?
Not necessarily; it mainly involves recording details and does not imply future participation.
Can "register" be used in casual conversation?
Yes, it is versatile and can be used to discuss signing up or listing for various things informally.
Is "enroll" more formal than "register"?
Both are formal, but "enroll" is more specific, implying ongoing engagement and commitment.
Can businesses "enroll" in programs?
Yes, businesses can enroll in programs, signifying their commitment and participation.
Does "register" always require providing personal details?
Typically, it involves recording some details, but the extent varies by context.
Can you "enroll" in an event?
Yes, if it implies commitment to attending or participating in the event.
Can you "register" a complaint?
Yes, registering a complaint means officially recording it.
Is "enroll" related to membership?
Yes, it often implies becoming a member with a level of commitment.
Does "enroll" imply acceptance?
Typically, yes, as enrolling often means being accepted into a program or institution.
Can "register" refer to measuring and displaying?
Yes, as in a device registering a certain reading or measurement.
Is "register" versatile in usage?
Absolutely, it can be used in various contexts with different implications.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
