seal of approval

Idioms  

1. An endorsement of something or someone, as in Our candidate doesn't have the governor's seal of approval, or The new management gave the old refund policy their seal of approval. This idiom was used, and perhaps invented, as an advertising gimmick of Good Housekeeping Magazine, which gave its so-called “seal of approval” to products it endorsed; the products' packaging in turn bore a small emblem attesting to this endorsement. The noun seal here is used in the same sense as in set one's seal on.

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Example Sentences

"We always knew our plushie toy collection was lifelike, but it seems we finally got the ultimate seal of approval," store manager Liam Bloomfield said.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has forked over $3.1 million for an expansive estate in Montreal’s exclusive Outremont neighborhood—and received the seal of approval from girlfriend Katy Perry.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 23, 2026

Yet many of these so-called crossover artists were already established in their careers before they each got their seal of approval in the States.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

“Why in the world would we give a seal of approval or a thumbs up to make you the largest behemoth on the planet related to content?”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

This outfit so wins the Indian-mom seal of approval.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

Related Words

• advocacy
• affirmation
• approval
• backing
• commercial
• confirmation
• favor
• permission
• ratification
• recommendation
• signature