approval
B2Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
The act of officially agreeing to something or accepting it as satisfactory.
A positive opinion or favorable judgment about someone or something; formal consent or authorization.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a judgment has been made, often by an authority or according to a standard. Can refer to both official/formal consent and personal liking.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Spelling is identical. In business contexts, 'sign-off' is a more informal synonym in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in British English for everyday contexts (e.g., 'I need my manager's approval'). In American English, can be used slightly more casually (e.g., 'That gets my approval!').
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
approval of + noun/gerund (approval of the plan)approval for + noun/gerund (approval for spending)approval from + person/body (approval from the board)get/receive/have + approvalgive/grant + approvalVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on approval (goods sent for trial before purchase)”
- “a stamp/seal/rubber stamp of approval”
- “meet with someone's approval”
- “nod one's approval”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Formal consent from a manager, committee, or regulator required to proceed with a project, expenditure, or hire.
Academic
Ethical approval for research; peer review leading to approval for publication.
Everyday
Seeking a parent's or partner's approval for a decision; showing liking for something.
Technical
Regulatory approval for a drug or medical device; planning approval in construction.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The committee will approve the minutes from the last meeting.
- We need to get the council to approve the building plans.
American English
- The board approved the budget yesterday.
- My boss hasn't approved my vacation request yet.
adverb
British English
- He nodded approvingly as she presented her idea.
- The teacher looked at the work approvingly.
American English
- She smiled approvingly at the decision.
- The critic wrote about the film approvingly.
adjective
British English
- She gave an approving nod.
- The report was met with approving comments.
American English
- He looked at her with an approving smile.
- The audience's reaction was highly approving.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My mum gave her approval for the trip.
- The teacher looked at my drawing with approval.
- We are waiting for official approval from the local government.
- The new design met with general approval from the team.
- Final regulatory approval for the medication could take another year.
- His actions implied tacit approval of their controversial strategy.
- The proposal was ratified, receiving the unanimous approval of the senate.
- Seeking constant external approval can be detrimental to one's autonomy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PRO giving a thumbs-up (a PRO's VALidation = approval).
Conceptual Metaphor
APPROVAL IS A SEAL/STAMP (to give a seal of approval). APPROVAL IS A GREEN LIGHT (to get the green light).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'approximation' (приближение).
- Do not directly translate 'on approval' as 'на одобрении'; it's a specific commercial term meaning 'with the right to return' (на пробу).
- 'Approval' is a noun; the verb is 'to approve' (одобрять).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'approval' as a verb (e.g., 'I approval this' is wrong; use 'I approve this').
- Confusing 'approval' (noun) with 'approve' (verb) in sentence structure.
- Misspelling as 'approvel' or 'apruval'.
Practice
Quiz
What does the commercial term 'on approval' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is usually uncountable (e.g., 'We need approval'). It can be countable when referring to specific instances or types (e.g., 'We received the necessary approvals').
'Of' is most common (approval of the plan). 'For' is also frequent, especially when indicating purpose (approval for the loan). 'From' indicates the source (approval from management).
'Approval' implies a positive judgment or agreement, often after evaluation. 'Permission' is more neutral, meaning allowing something to happen, not necessarily implying a positive opinion.
Not directly. The noun for the opposite is 'disapproval'. However, you can have a 'lack of approval' or describe something as 'failing to win approval'.