appraisal
uh-PRAY-zul
/əˈpreɪzl/
A formal assessment or estimation of the value, quality, or performance of someone or something.
In a business context, an appraisal is usually a scheduled, formal meeting between an employee and manager to discuss career progress and salary.
The story behind the word. The word traces back to the Latin 'pretium', meaning price or value. Originally, it referred to a merchant setting a price on goods. By the 20th century, it shifted from the warehouse to the office, describing the 'pricing' of an employee's value to a company.
Word relationships
- assessment: Assessment is a broader term for any kind of testing or checking; appraisal is specifically about determining value or worth.
- valuation: Valuation is almost exclusively used for financial assets or property, whereas appraisal can apply to people's work.
- neglect: Neglect is the failure to pay attention to or value something, the opposite of a structured appraisal.
Commonly confused with
- praise: Praise is purely positive approval; an appraisal is a neutral, balanced evaluation that includes both strengths and weaknesses.
Word family
- appraise (verb): To assess the value or quality of.
- appraiser (noun): A person who performs an appraisal.
Collocations
- annual appraisal
- performance appraisal
- appraisal system
- conduct an appraisal
Example sentences
- "The annual performance appraisal is a key opportunity for employees to discuss their career development with their managers." Corporate HR policy regarding annual reviews.
- "Performance appraisal is not merely a technique for measuring performance, but a process of managing people." A classic business management text.
Memory hook
Think of 'App-Raise-All'. A good appraisal might lead to a 'raise' for 'all' your hard work. Setting the price of performance.
When not to use
Do not use 'appraisal' for casual opinions; it implies a structured, often written, process of valuation.
Fun facts
- Real estate agents use 'appraisals' to determine house prices, just as managers use them to determine 'human capital' value.
Related words
Explore more words
interview, valuation, Appreciation, evaluation, approbation, applause
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.