imprimatur
noun
im·pri·ma·tur
ˌim-prə-ˈmä-ˌtu̇r 
im-ˈpri-mə-ˌtu̇r
im-ˈpri-mə-ˌtu̇r
-ˌtyu̇r
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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.”
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
See All Example Sentences for imprimatur
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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
See All Example Sentences for imprimatur
Cite this Entry
“Imprimatur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imprimatur. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
imprimatur
noun
im·pri·ma·tur
ˌim-prə-ˈmä-tu̇(ə)r
: official approval (as to print or publish)
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