appraisal

noun ap·prais·al \ ə-ˈprā-zəl \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of appraisal

: an act or instance of appraising something or someone

a damage appraisal

They gave us an honest appraisal of our chances.

; especially : a valuation of property by the estimate of an authorized person

sought an appraisal of her jewelry

real estate appraisals

See appraisal defined for English-language learners

See appraisal defined for kids

Examples of appraisal in a Sentence

the appraisal of some jewelry
I made a quick appraisal of the situation and decided to leave right away.
The book is an excellent appraisal of the influences that have shaped our government.

Recent Examples of appraisal from the Web

Svetanoff informed the council that he's received appraisals for the two parcels on Broadway that would be part of the center, totaling about $350,000.

— karen caffarini, Post-Tribune, "Merrillville wants lower cost for proposed rec center," 19 Apr. 2018
The San Diego reaction to this tongue-in-cheek appraisal was instant and angry.

— roger showley, sandiegouniontribune.com, ""A Faithful Mirror": The San Diego Union-Tribune's first 150 years," 15 Apr. 2018
Wine collectors, for instance, usually pay for storage, insurance, shipping and appraisals.

— anne tergesen, WSJ, "Retiring Soon? Here’s How to Handle Your Collectibles," 13 Apr. 2018
Antiques appraisal Wonder if that antique is worth something?

— bob dohr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Young golfers and their families invited to Currie Park April 15 for Junior Golf Day," 9 Apr. 2018
While tickets are being sold for the appraisal event, admission to the festival is free.

— kim chatelain, NOLA.com, "You can 'Ask An Appraiser' to value items at Covington event on April 22," 6 Apr. 2018
Kevin Gwinner, a marketing specialist and the business school dean at Kansas State University, invokes something called cognitive appraisal theory.

— neil swidey, BostonGlobe.com, "The right way to complain when a business does you wrong," 3 Apr. 2018
Some 5,000 to 6,000 people showed up, toting up to two items per person for appraisal.

— kristi turnquist | the oregonian/oregonlive, OregonLive.com, "'Antiques Roadshow' Portland episodes to air in April, spotlighting local treasures," 30 Mar. 2018
Housing starts and consumer spending could be revised up in this final appraisal, says Nomura economist Lewis Alexander.

— paul davidson, USA TODAY, "Consumers are confident. Will they spend more? Reports this week should offer clues," 26 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'appraisal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of appraisal

see appraise

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1795

See Words from the same year

appraisal Synonyms

Synonyms

appraisement, assessment, estimate, estimation, evaluation, fix, judgment (or judgement), value judgment;

confidence, faith, stock, trust;

belief, conviction, mind, persuasion, sentiment, view;

conjecture, guess, hunch, hypothesis, surmise, theory;

Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

Financial Definition of APPRAISAL

appraisal

noun

What It Is

An appraisal is an estimate of the market value of an item by a certified professional.

How It Works

The definition of appraisal on InvestingAnswers Appraisals can be assigned to nearly any item, including real estate. Appraisals are conducted by individuals called appraisers. Appraisers are educated in a variety of market valuation methods and are recognized by a regulatory authority as being capable of issuing an accurate valuation. For instance, an appraisal on an antique will take into account such variables as age, condition, origin, and availability of authenticating documentation.

Why It Matters

Property appraisals are done primarily for taxation and insurance purposes, but may also serve as the basis for an asking price should the owner of a piece of property wish to sell. Appraisals are also valuable for business purposes, as many takeovers are based on a fair valuation of the company’s assets.

Source: Investing Answers

APPRAISAL Defined for English Language Learners

appraisal

noun

Definition of appraisal for English Language Learners

: the act of judging the value, condition, or importance of something : the act of appraising something
: something that states an opinion about the value, condition, or importance of something

APPRAISAL Defined for Kids

appraisal

noun ap·prais·al \ ə-ˈprā-zəl \

Definition of appraisal for Students

: an act or instance of setting a value on

appraisal of the property

Law Dictionary

appraisal

noun ap·prais·al \ ə-ˈprā-zəl \

legal Definition of appraisal

: a valuation of property by the estimate of an authorized person: as

a : the determination of the fair value of a corporation's stock by a judicial proceeding that a dissenting shareholder is usually entitled by statute to demand in a case of extraordinary corporate action (as a merger) — see also ¹dissent 1

b : the estimation of the value of real estate for the purpose of taxation, sale, or securing a mortgage

c : the estimation of the value of damage done to property for the purpose of adjusting an insurance claim