approval

noun

ap·​prov·​al ə-ˈprü-vəl How to pronounce approval (audio)
: an act or instance of approving something : approbation
The change is subject to the committee's approval.
Phrases
on approval
: subject to a prospective buyer's acceptance or refusal
stamps sent to collectors on approval

Examples of approval in a Sentence

children who never gained their parents' approval Do I have your approval to make the changes? The rally will be on May 19, provided the city gives its approval. The government has so far withheld approval of the drug. We were required to get approvals at each stage of the project.
Recent Examples on the Web Across the Anacostia River, another fragile Washington neighborhood is dreading the ripple effects of that stadium deal — which still needs approval by the Virginia General Assembly and the city of Alexandria. Ashraf Khalil, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024 Analysts at the time credited the surge to three main factors, including anticipation of the SEC's approval of the spot ETFs, anticipation of Fed rate cuts and its upcoming halving event, in which the reward for mining bitcoin is cut in half. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2024 The project also faced a rocky start in 2016 when a lawsuit from opponents of the line prompted a federal judge to suspend a key environmental approval. Danny Nguyen, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024 City officials provide the conferences as an informal, private forum for developers to get preliminary feedback on conceptual plans that may or may not result in a formal application for building permits and other approvals needed for a project to be built. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024 And regulatory approval for FSD has not arrived, either, as the company incrementally attempts to improve the software. Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 The numbers paint a picture of an election led by two unpopular candidates—while Biden has only a 38% favorability rating, Trump’s approval numbers are also weak at 44%. James Farrell, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 To confirm the galaxy’s primordial nature, the team will seek approval to aim a large optical telescope at it for tens of hours — ironically, in the hopes of seeing nothing at all. Mark Zastrow, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 The initiatives are ongoing, with the latest batch of approvals sent just this week. Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'approval.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see approve

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of approval was in 1613

Dictionary Entries Near approval

Cite this Entry

“Approval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/approval. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

approval

noun
ap·​prov·​al ə-ˈprü-vəl How to pronounce approval (audio)
: an act or instance of approving

More from Merriam-Webster on approval

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