imprimatur

American  

[im-pri-mah-ter, im-prim-uh-ter, im-pri-mey-ter] / ˌɪm prɪˈmɑ tər, ˌɪmˈprɪm ə tər, ˌɪm prɪˈmeɪ tər /

noun

1. an official license to print or publish a book, pamphlet, etc., especially a license issued by a censor of the Roman Catholic Church.

2. sanction or approval; support.

   Our plan has the company president's imprimatur.

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imprimatur British  

/ -ˈmɑː-, ˌɪmprɪˈmeɪtə /

noun

1. RC Church a licence granted by a bishop certifying the Church's approval of a book to be published

2. sanction, authority, or approval, esp for something to be printed

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Etymology

Origin of imprimatur

First recorded in 1630–40; from New Latin: literally, “let it be printed,” Latin: literally, “let it be made by pressing upon (something)”; impress ¹

Example Sentences

But it turns out putting the family imprimatur on a crypto business was far more lucrative than steaks.

From The Wall Street Journal

It got a $7 billion subsidy from Washington, and it got the federal government’s imprimatur to sell cellular plans to first responders, a business now worth billions.

From The Wall Street Journal

In addition to possessing fewer resources and lacking official imprimatur, nonprofit organizations, with more flexible budgets but also more reliance on donors, are geared towards actionable projects rather than long-term maintenance that require massive investments.

From Salon

They give new research the imprimatur of rigor and validity and have been a forum for publishing findings that have advanced human health and scientific progress across fields.

From The Wall Street Journal

She needs no institution’s imprimatur, and there’s no corner of the industry promising anything she hasn’t already achieved.

From Los Angeles Times