Imprimatur Meaning and Definition
Imprimatur
Pronunciation
/ɪmˈprɪmətər/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A formal approval or endorsement of a document, publication, or work of art, especially one issued by a government or official institution.
Examples
- The book received an imprimatur from the literary council.
- The artist sought an imprimatur from the museum director.
Synonyms
- Approval
- Sanction
Antonyms
- Disapproval
- Rejection
Etymology
The word “imprimatur” comes from the Latin “imprimatur”, which means “let it be printed”, and was originally used to indicate that a document had been approved for publication.
Usage Notes
Imprimatur is often used in academic and artistic contexts to indicate formal approval or endorsement of a work.
Cultural References
Imprimatur has been featured in various works of literature, including George Orwell’s 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
“Imprimatur of approval” is a common idiomatic expression used to describe a formal or official endorsement.
Related Words or Phrases
- Approval
- Sanction
- Licensing
Collocations
- Formal imprimatur
- Official imprimatur
- Academic imprimatur
Frequency of Use
Imprimatur is a relatively rare word in modern language, but it is still used in certain academic and artistic contexts.
Common Misspellings
- Imperature
- Imprimature
- Imprimter