# approved

/əˈpɹuvd/ (US) · /ɐpɹˈuːvd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/approved
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. officially accepted

adjective · CEFR B1

officially accepted as being good enough or correct.

For teachers: having received official sanction or formal confirmation of adequacy.

- You must use an approved helmet when riding a motorcycle in this city.
- The project cannot proceed until the committee provides an approved list of vendors who meet the new safety standards.

Usage: Often used before a noun to describe equipment, methods, or people that meet a standard.

### 3. proven by experience

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

shown to be true or good through experience over a long time.

For teachers: demonstrated or proven effective through experience or trial.

- The old doctor used approved methods that had worked for years.
- He was a man of approved valour, having served with distinction in several difficult campaigns.

Teaching tip: This sense is rare in modern speech; learners will mostly encounter it in 19th-century literature or historical texts.

## Examples

- The manager approved the budget for the new project.
- The city council finally approved the plans to build a new park in the downtown area.
- While the committee approved the initial proposal, they requested several amendments to ensure the project remained within the strict environmental guidelines set by the state.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.