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

That last insight must come as a shock to a president who until recently viewed the legislature, controlled by his own party, roughly as North Korea’s Kim Jong Un or Russia’s Vladimir Putin regard their rubber-stamp parliaments. —Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 12 June 2026

When a model recommends an action, a second system carries it out, and a human rubber-stamps it, responsibility starts to dissolve. —Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

Noun

The Council of the EU, which represents the bloc’s member state governments, is slated to rubber stamp the agreement by June 26, after which it will be entered into the EU’s Official Journal and the law will take effect. —Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 16 June 2026

The peer review system isn’t a rubber stamp for any research scientists want to pursue. —Kelly Fleming, Forbes.com, 11 June 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