# endorse

/ɛnˈdɔɹs/ (US) · /ɛndˈɔːs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/endorse
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to support publicly

verb · CEFR B2

to say publicly that you support a person, a product, or an idea.

For teachers: to express formal or public approval of a person, policy, or product. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The famous athlete was paid millions to endorse the new brand of running shoes.
- The committee refused to endorse the candidate until she clarified her position on the proposed environmental regulations.

Usage: Often used in political and commercial contexts.

### 2. to sign a document

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

to sign your name on the back of a cheque so it can be paid.

For teachers: to sign one's name on the back of a cheque or other negotiable instrument to make it payable to another party.

- You must endorse the cheque on the back before the bank will cash it.
- The solicitor advised his client to endorse the document immediately to facilitate the transfer of funds between the two accounts.

Usage: In legal contexts, this refers specifically to the signature on the reverse side of a document.

### 3. driving penalty

verb · CEFR C2 · British English · Formal

to record a driving offence on someone's official driving licence.

For teachers: to record a conviction or penalty points on a driving licence. Transitive; typically used in the passive voice.

- His licence was endorsed with three penalty points for driving too fast.
- The magistrate ordered the defendant's licence to be endorsed following the repeated traffic violations in the city centre.

Usage: Primarily a British legal term; the noun form is 'endorsement'.

### 4. to report a symptom

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

to say that you have a specific medical symptom when a doctor asks.

For teachers: to confirm the presence of a symptom or clinical finding during a medical assessment.

- The patient did not endorse any chest pain during the physical exam.
- Although the subject endorsed mild fatigue, they denied any significant cognitive impairment during the initial screening phase.

Teaching tip: This is highly specialised medical jargon; in everyday English, patients 'report' or 'have' symptoms.

## Examples

- The famous athlete decided to endorse the new sports drink.
- Several major labor unions have already moved to endorse the candidate ahead of the primary election.
- While the committee may endorse the general principles of the proposal, they remain hesitant to approve the specific funding mechanisms outlined in the final chapter.

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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.