Approbative
//ˈæp.ɹəˌbeɪ.tɪv// adj, noun
adj, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A word or grammatical form which denotes a positive affect expressing the appreciation or approval of the speaker.
Adjective
- 1 Expressing approval.
"approbative criticism"
- 2 Sanctioning officially, giving authorization or approval to something.
"And if the words have any graine of truth in them, they must be undestood [sic] not of an Authorative, but onely of a Consultive Power to advise him, or at the most approbative, to give their assent to Laws propounded, he having limited himselfe to make no Laws without them."
Adjective
- 1 expressing or manifesting praise or approval wordnet
Example
More examples"His late Display of unparralled [sic] Generosity to a distressed, though reputable Family, will be enrolled in the Court above; and from the recording Angel, instead of a Tear, extort an approbative smile."
Etymology
From Medieval Latin approbātīvus, from Latin approbō (“assert, accept, confirm”).
More for "approbative"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.