imprimatur
Americannoun
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an official license to print or publish a book, pamphlet, etc., especially a license issued by a censor of the Roman Catholic Church.
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sanction or approval; support.
Our plan has the company president's imprimatur.
noun
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RC Church a licence granted by a bishop certifying the Church's approval of a book to be published
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sanction, authority, or approval, esp for something to be printed
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)”; see impress 1
Explanation
If you give something your imprimatur, you give it your formal support or approval. An imprimatur is a fancy version of a thumbs-up sign. Originally, an imprimatur was a license that permitted a book to be printed. This word still has the meaning of official or public approval. When the president signs a bill, he gives it his imprimatur. You might give your imprimatur to your favorite rock band by wearing a T-shirt with the band’s logo on it.
Vocabulary lists containing imprimatur
This Week in Words: March 17- 23, 2018
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Becoming
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Ten Words from The New York Times - Apr. 10, 2013
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The nationwide lobbying behemoth and its imprimatur often settle debate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Dozens of the collection’s works — including all the paintings by Kahlo and Rivera — bear the legal imprimatur of “artistic monument,” which restricts sales and export.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
“Court finds that this matter was brought for an improper purpose—to gain the imprimatur of judicial legitimacy for a ‘settlement’ that had no viable basis in law or fact.”
From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026
I submit that it’s because the ideas in this script would have seemed much too weak to merit a feature film without some imprimatur of quality.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
Well-known quotations embody both of these things: they come with the imprimatur both of ancient derivation, and of the many people who, by passing it on, in some way are understood to have endorsed it.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
