approval

The word “approval” means official permission or agreement that something is acceptable. In plain terms, agreement or permission that something is good, correct, or allowed.

“Approval” is pronounced uh-PROO-vuhl (/əˈpɹuvəl/ in IPA).

Here is “approval” used in a sentence: “The project needs approval from the city council.”

Words with a similar meaning to “approval” include sanction, accedence, allowance, assent, assentment and authorization.

The opposite of “approval” — its antonyms — are disapprobation, nonassent and disapproval.

“Approval” is a noun.

“Approval” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

Permission is being allowed to do something — the granting of the right to act. Approval is a formal agreement that something is acceptable or good. They often overlap, but approval can also express positive judgment without granting rights, as when you approve of a plan you admire but do not control.

Approval can be formal or informal. Official approval includes things like planning permission, regulatory sign-off, or a manager authorising a request. Social approval is subtler — the acceptance, praise, or agreement of other people. In business and law, approval is usually a documented, deliberate act rather than a passing opinion.

The main opposites are disapproval and rejection. Disapproval means judging something to be unacceptable or wrong, while rejection means formally refusing it. Related terms include denial, when permission is withheld, and veto, the power to block a decision outright. Which fits depends on whether the setting is personal or official.