What does "approval" mean?

1. (official permission) official permission or agreement for something to happen. 2. (liking or agreement) the feeling that you agree with something or think it is good. 3. (on trial) a system where you can look at a product before deciding to buy it.

How do you use "approval"?

Often used with the verbs 'give', 'get', or 'seek'. Commonly follows the preposition 'of'. Almost exclusively used in the fixed phrase 'on approval'.

approval

US //əˈpɹuvəɫ// UK //ɐpɹˈuːvəl// ap·proval

1 official permission (n.)
B1 Intermediate

official permission or agreement for something to happen.

formal permission or sanction granted by an authority or governing body.

Example

The city council gave its final approval for the new park project.

Example

The proposed merger is currently awaiting regulatory approval from the competition commission before the companies can proceed with the integration.

Usage

Often used with the verbs 'give', 'get', or 'seek'.
- rejection
- refusal
2 liking or agreement (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the feeling that you agree with something or think it is good.

a favourable opinion or state of mind regarding a person, idea, or action.

Example

She looked at her father, hoping to see a nod of approval.

Example

The manager's warm smile signaled her silent approval of the team's innovative approach to the problem.

Usage

Commonly follows the preposition 'of'.
- disapproval
- dislike

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3 on trial (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical

a system where you can look at a product before deciding to buy it.

a commercial arrangement where goods are sent to a customer for examination before purchase or return.

Example

The shop sent the expensive rug to the house on approval.

Example

The gallery agreed to provide the painting on approval, allowing the collector to see how the piece complemented her existing decor.

Usage

Almost exclusively used in the fixed phrase 'on approval'.
- trial
- inspection

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *pér Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *pró Proto-Indo-European *pro-der. Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH-der. Proto-Italic *proβwos Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Proto-Italic *proβwāō Latin probō Latin approbōder. Old French aproverbor. Middle English aproven English approve Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English approval From approve + -al.

Word family

Nounapproval
Noundisapproval