approbation
ap-ruh-BEY-shuhn
/ˌæprəˈbeɪʃən/
Formal approval or praise; commendation.
Refers to official, institutional, or authoritative approval, rather than just personal liking.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'approbare', which combines 'ad-' (to) and 'probus' (good). Literally, it means 'to deem something good.' In medieval English, it was used in legal contexts to mean the official validation of a will or document.
Word relationships
- approval: Approval is general and can be informal, while approbation is highly formal and authoritative.
- sanction: Sanction can mean official permission, but it can also mean a penalty, making approbation more purely positive.
- disapprobation: The direct opposite, meaning formal disapproval.
- condemnation: Severe, formal disapproval and blame.
Commonly confused with
- probation: Probation is a trial period of testing, while approbation is the formal approval that might follow a successful trial.
Word family
- approbatory (adjective): Expressing approval.
Collocations
- meet with approbation
- win approbation
- formal approbation
Example sentences
- "The board of directors expressed their warm approbation of the new environmental policy." A formal business proposal review.
Memory hook
Think of passing your 'probation' period at work. Once you pass, you get your boss's 'approbation' (approval). Approbation = Passing probation with approval.
When not to use
Do not use for casual, informal agreements between friends.
Fun facts
- The word 'approbation' is the direct linguistic ancestor of 'approving' and 'approval', but it has retained its formal, high-register flavor.
Explore more words
commendation, compliment, authorize, endorse, applause, censure
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