approval

[ uh-proo-vuhl ]

noun

1. the act of approving; approbation.
2. formal permission or sanction.
3. Philately. one of a group of selected stamps sent by a dealer to a prospective customer for examination and either purchase or return.

approval

/ əˈpruːvəl /

noun

1. the act of approving
2. formal agreement; sanction
3. a favourable opinion; commendation
4. on approval
   on approval (of articles for sale) for examination with an option to buy or return

Other Words From

• nonap·proval noun
• preap·proval noun
• proap·proval adjective
• reap·proval noun
• self-ap·proval noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of approval¹

First recorded in 1680–90; approve + -al ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on approval, without obligation to buy unless satisfactory to the customer upon trial or examination and, otherwise, returnable:

   We ship merchandise on approval.

More idioms and phrases containing approval

see on approval ; seal of approval .

Example Sentences

Other vaccines will almost certainly come to the market that only require one shot — Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose vaccine is already working through the last stage of federal approval.

From Vox

After a broader play about the group of enslaved people, who became known as the GU272, fell through, Short-Colomb said, she and Lab officials went to the university administration and got approval for her project.

From Washington Post

City News Service reports that any recommendations proposed by the South County Environmental Justice Task Force to clean up the Tijuana River Valley would first need approval by the supervisors.

From Voice of San Diego

No one can remove someone’s liver without approval for medical purposes.

From Science News For Students

Much like a liver can’t be taken out of a body without approval for medical purposes, neural data shouldn’t be removed either.

From Science News

“The process of getting the approval is too slow and is too cumbersome,” Rogers said.

From The Daily Beast

They would have to get court approval to re-home their children.

From The Daily Beast

It was done after we had received a binding legal opinion from Justice and approval from the White House to proceed.

From The Daily Beast

Vreeland believes that in the end, his grandmother put her subtle seal of approval on his lifestyle.

From The Daily Beast

He tried to contact a Health Republic doctor to overrule the nurse and get approval for payment.

From The Daily Beast

At the store he would never have given in, but he was not accustomed to hearing so loud a murmur of approval greet the opposition.

From Project Gutenberg

She pressed her hands tighter upon her bosom; her eyes sparkled with an odd approval of that brisk deed.

From Project Gutenberg

I shall be glad if your Majesty is satisfied and pleased with it, as in all I desire to win your approval.

From Project Gutenberg

The socialist reads such criticism as the above with impatient approval.

From Project Gutenberg

On September 17, the famous "Suffolk Resolves" were laid before the deputies for their approval.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blessing
• confirmation
• consent
• endorsement
• go ahead
• green light
• license
• mandate
• permission
• ratification
• recommendation
• sanction
• support