English Reference
noun

acceptance

n.
US /ækˈsɛptəns/ UK /ɐksˈɛptəns/ ac·cep·tance UK spelling acceptance's, acceptance's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of saying 'yes' to an offer, an invitation, or an idea.

    the act of receiving something offered with approval or satisfaction; the formal agreement to terms or an invitation.

    Simple

    We are waiting for their formal acceptance of our job offer.

    In context

    The committee's swift acceptance of the proposal surprised the board, as they had expected a lengthy debate over the budget.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the feeling of being included or welcomed by a group of people.

    the state of being received or admitted into a group, community, or social circle.

    Simple

    Moving to a new school is hard until you find acceptance among your classmates.

    In context

    The immigrant community sought social acceptance through local outreach programmes and cultural exchange events.

    exclusionostracism
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of admitting that a situation is true or real, even if it is difficult.

    the process of acknowledging a situation or fact, often a negative one, without attempting to protest or change it.

    Simple

    Acceptance of the facts helped her move on after the accident.

    In context

    Therapy often focuses on the acceptance of past trauma as a necessary step toward emotional recovery.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced FormalTechnical Law

    a formal or legal agreement to pay a debt or follow the rules of a contract.

    a person's assent to the terms of a contract or a bill of exchange, creating a legally binding obligation.

    Simple

    The contract is not valid until there is a clear acceptance of the terms.

    In context

    In contract law, the mirror image rule requires that the acceptance must exactly match the terms of the original offer to be valid.

    Usage

    Often used in the context of 'offer and acceptance' in contract law.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced Academic

    when an idea or a word's meaning is believed or used by most people.

    the state of being widely believed, used, or recognized as correct or standard.

    Simple

    This theory has gained wide acceptance among scientists over the last decade.

    In context

    The term has found general acceptance in the linguistic community, despite its origins as a colloquialism.

Usage acceptance of the narratives · acceptance of · gain acceptance

This heartbreakingly poignant 11+ verse novel delicately traces the slow, non-linear processes of acceptance and healing, heightened by Todd-Stanton’s shadowy, sweet black-and-white illustrations.

The Guardian· 26 Jun 2026

He remembers, for example, the debates that used to dominate the heyday of “Black Twitter”, about issues such as “proximity to whiteness” – the notion that lighter skin brought you closer to acceptance.

The Guardian· 9 Aug 2026

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *kap- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *kapyéti Proto-Italic *kapjō Old Latin kapiō Latin capiō Latin accipiō Latin acceptārelbor. Old French accepterder. Middle French acceptanceder. English acceptance * First attested in 1574. From Middle French acceptance, from Old French accepter (“accept”). Equivalent to accept + -ance.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Old French accepter
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated