rubber-stamp

1 of 2

verb

rub·​ber-stamp ˈrə-bər-ˈstamp 

rubber-stamped; rubber-stamping; rubber-stamps

transitive verb

1

: to approve, endorse, or dispose of as a matter of routine or at the command of another

They expect that Congress will rubber-stamp the proposal.

2

: to mark with a rubber stamp

rubber stamp

2 of 2

noun

1

: a stamp of rubber for making imprints

2

a

: a person who echoes or imitates others

b

: a mostly powerless yet officially recognized body or person that approves or endorses programs and policies initiated usually by a single specified source

the parliament was a rubber stamp for the dictator

3

a

: a stereotyped copy or expression

… the usual rubber stamps of criticism …

—H. L. Mencken

b

: a routine endorsement or approval

Synonyms of rubber-stamp

Noun

• echo
• follower
• imitator

Examples of rubber-stamp in a Sentence

Noun

The legislature has been nothing more than a rubber stamp for the President.

an author who was ultimately just another rubber stamp of Hemingway

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The 2027-29 state budget, which was approved Thursday in the rubber-stamp parliament on the first of three votes, is accompanied by a string of tax hikes announced after the September parliamentary elections. — David McHugh, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026

The country's 2027-2029 state budget, which will be taken up Thursday in the rubber-stamp parliament, is accompanied by a string of tax hikes announced after the September parliamentary elections. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

Noun

Collins voted against the tax law, citing its Medicaid cuts, and eventually opposed the war, but Jackson attempted to frame her as a rubber stamp who only broke with her party when her vote didn’t decide the outcome. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026

No matter who is sworn in as mayor next May, the council won’t be reverting to its prior role of rubber stamp. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1893, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rubber-stamp

• firedamp
• amp
• champ
• clamp
• cramp
• damp
• gamp
• lamp
• ramp
• samp
• scamp
• stamp

Kids Definition

rubber-stamp

1 of 2 verb

: to approve, endorse, or dispose of as a matter of routine or at the command of another

rubber stamp

2 of 2 noun

: a stamp with a printing face made of rubber