Words / C2

apr-uh-BAYSHUN/ˌæprəˈbeɪʃn/

Approbation is official or public approval (formal): win approbation, a murmur of approbation. Approval (already in the dictionary) is everyday; probation is a trial period — a lookalike. Disapprobation is the rare opposite. Do not confuse board approbation of a slogan with ethics approval.

Meaning

Official or public approval (formal).

Examples

• “Board approbation of the slogan is not ethics approval.”
• “Board approbation of the motto is not the ethics committee’s signature.”
• “Approval is everyday. Probation is a trial (job or criminal). Praise can be unofficial; approbation often sounds institutional. A like on social media is not approbation in a paper.”

Good to know

Formal approval / praise. Everyday: approval. Mix-up: probation (a trial period). Not a like, and not ethics sign-off.

Near in meaning

approval

New