acceptance

noun

ac·​cep·​tance ik-ˈsep-tən(t)s 

ak-

1

: the quality or state of being accepted or acceptable

His theories have gained widespread acceptance.

2

: the act of accepting something or someone : the fact of being accepted : approval

acceptance of responsibility

3

law : an agreeing either expressly or by conduct to the act or offer of another so that a contract is concluded and the parties become legally bound

4

a

: the act of accepting a time draft or bill of exchange for payment when due according to the specified terms

b

: an accepted draft or bill of exchange

5

: acceptation sense 2

Examples of acceptance in a Sentence

her acceptance into the club

The university has sent me a letter of acceptance.

He delivered an acceptance speech after he was chosen as the party's presidential nominee.

Recent Examples on the Web

Introduced early in Volvo Trucks’ electrification push, the Volvo FL quickly became one of the company’s first medium-duty models available with a fully electric driveline and has since gained broad acceptance among urban transport operators. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 14 Dec. 2025

These small efforts communicate love and acceptance in a simple but powerful way. —Staff Author, Parents, 11 Dec. 2025

Malo, who received the American Eagle Award from the National Music Council of the United States, couldn’t attend but sent an acceptance letter to be read. —Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2025

Ways that people have been able to subvert the historical narrative around it into something new that has resulted instead in processes of naturalization, inclusion, acceptance? —Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French, "agreement to abide by the act on another," from accepter "to accept" + -ance -ance

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing acceptance

• acceptance speech
• banker's acceptance
• find acceptance
• self-acceptance
• trade acceptance

Rhymes for acceptance

• nonacceptance

Kids Definition

acceptance

noun

ac·​cep·​tance ik-ˈsep-tən(t)s 

ak-

1

: the act of accepting

2

: the quality or state of being accepted or acceptable