# approval

Pronunciation: say "uh-PROO-vuhl" US /əˈpɹuvəl/, UK /əˈpɹuːvəl/

## Noun

1. Permission to do or have something, or an indication that a proposal or person meets the required standard.
   - Simple: Permission to do something, or a sign that someone agrees a thing is good enough.
   - _The committee gave its approval for the new building project._
   - _Final approval rests with the board of directors._
2. A show of favorable acceptance and encouragement that praises someone or something while also condoning it.
   - Simple: Showing that you like someone or something and want them to keep going.
   - _Her teacher's approval gave her the confidence to keep writing._
   - _The audience showed its approval with a long round of applause._
3. An item a seller mails to a collector to match their stated interests, which the collector may then buy or return.
   - Simple: A stamp or item a seller mails to a collector to look at, who can then buy it or send it back.
   - _Each month the dealer mailed him stamps on approval to review at home._
   - _She returned the entire approval, finding nothing that fit her collection._

## Origin

Formed from the verb "approve" combined with the suffix "-al".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/approval (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).