imprimatur

noun

im·​pri·​ma·​tur ˌim-prə-ˈmä-ˌtu̇r  im-ˈpri-mə-ˌtu̇r 

-ˌtyu̇r

1

a

: sanction, approval

b

: imprint

c

: a mark of approval or distinction

… putting the sports establishment's imprimatur on an event that was once the exclusive province of renegades.

—Curry Kirkpatrick

2

a

: a license to print or publish especially by Roman Catholic episcopal authority

b

: approval of a publication under circumstances of official censorship

Did you know?

Imprimatur means “let it be printed” in New Latin (the Latin used since the end of the medieval period especially in science). It comes from Latin imprimere, meaning “to imprint or impress.” In the 1600s, the word appeared in the front matter of books, accompanied by the name of an official authorizing the book’s printing. In time, English speakers began using imprimatur in the general sense of “official approval.”

Synonyms of imprimatur

• approval
• blessing

Examples of imprimatur in a Sentence

He gave the book his imprimatur.

could not begin the project without the boss's imprimatur

Recent Examples on the Web

The pro-Taliban social-media account @afghanarabc shared the post, indicating at least a bit of an official imprimatur for Aryubi’s stunt. —T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2025

The merger will require approval from the Higher Learning Commission -- which could take several months -- but the goal is to have that imprimatur in time for the fall 2026 semester. —Ryan Anderson, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2025

But prior generations grew up knowing it firsthand, whereas Gen Z has been raised in a world where, each June, huge rainbow parades bearing the imprimaturs of corporations and local governments rolled down the streets of every major U.S. city. —Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 25 June 2025

Nebraska is ready and willing to put its imprimatur on stablecoins. —Brady Dale, Axios, 8 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, let it be printed, from imprimere to print, from Latin, to imprint, impress — more at impress entry 1

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for imprimatur

• annunciator
• underwater
• backwater
• bathwater
• blackwater
• breakwater
• deepwater
• edgewater
• feedwater
• floodwater
• freshwater
• granddaughter

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Kids Definition

imprimatur

noun

im·​pri·​ma·​tur ˌim-prə-ˈmä-tu̇(ə)r 

: official approval (as to print or publish)