acceptance

American  

[ak-sep-tuhns, ik-] / ækˈsɛp təns, ɪk- /

noun

acceptances plural

1. the act of taking or receiving something offered.

2. favorable reception; approval; favor.

3. the act of assenting or believing.

   acceptance of a theory.

4. the fact or state of being accepted or acceptable.

5. acceptation.

6. Commerce.

   1. an engagement to pay an order, draft, or bill of exchange when it becomes due, as by the person on whom it is drawn.

   2. an order, draft, etc., that a person or bank has accepted as calling for payment and has thus promised to pay.

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acceptance British  

/ əkˈsɛptəns /

noun

1. the act of accepting or the state of being accepted or acceptable

2. favourable reception; approval

3. (often foll by of) belief (in) or assent (to)

4. commerce

   1. a formal agreement by a debtor to pay a draft, bill, etc

   2. the document so accepted Compare bank acceptance

5. (plural) a list of horses accepted as starters in a race

6. contract law words or conduct by which a person signifies his assent to the terms and conditions of an offer or agreement

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonacceptance
  noun
• preacceptance
  noun
• reacceptance
  noun
• self-acceptance
  noun
• unacceptance
  noun
• proacceptance
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• acceptances
  plural

Etymology

Origin of acceptance

First recorded in 1565–75; accept + -ance

Explanation

Acceptance is taking something given to you. You might be relieved by your friend's acceptance of your apology for accidentally riding your bike over his foot. An acceptance of someone or something is also an indication that you approve of or believe in it (or them). If you dye your hair green and wear a suit made of bear fur, gaining your grandmother’s acceptance may prove difficult if she's a conservative dresser and an animal lover. In legal terms acceptance is language signifying consent to the terms of an offer, leading to the creation of a contract.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

acceptance acceptances

There is anger and fear, as well as hope and acceptance, exposing the growing anxieties over immigration and social change as Japan grapples with a labour shortage from a shrinking and ageing population.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

For others, this World Cup only reinforced the values they always associated with Los Angeles: cultural acceptance, intense pride and charming grit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

Then, they plotted his pivot to ceasefire negotiations, on March 22, his acceptance of one on April 7, and his decision to focus on a memorandum of understanding on May 18.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

The European steel and metal processor on Wednesday said it views Worthington Steel’s intentions as broadly positive, but that it is unable to recommend either acceptance or rejection of the offer to shareholders.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

They've had plenty of time to share their college acceptance stories.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman

UniCredit received valid acceptances for its offer for Commerzbank of 10.9% as of Tuesday, which add to its existing direct stake of 26.8%, according to a regulatory filing published by the Italian bank.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026

But, with four in 10 universities thought to be in deficit and acceptances only up by 1.4% at "lower tariff" universities, there will be institutions hoping to recruit more students through Clearing.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2025

“A much larger group of employees will receive the offer, but acceptances will be capped at approximately 240 people,” Stonesifer wrote.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 11, 2023

Nalini even catches herself calling Devi stupid after she lied about college acceptances and quickly corrects herself in the final season.

From Salon ● Jun. 19, 2023

He wrote and telephoned dozens of acceptances to invitations to speak, predominantly at colleges and universities—both to expound his philosophies and to earn the $150-$300 honorariums above traveling expenses.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

Related Words

• accession
• acknowledgment
• admission
• adoption
• affirmation
• agreement
• approval
• concession
• recognition