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

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

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

In July, the U.S. Senate rubber-stamped $9 billion in reductions to foreign aid and public broadcasting after Congress had already set aside money for those programs. —Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025

Expect scrutiny over whether prescribing practitioners are actually evaluating patients or merely rubber-stamping prescriptions based on thin records and virtual checkboxes. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025

Noun

The Department of Education needs more independence from unions, not another rubber stamp. —Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2025

Such deals may help settle ongoing lawsuits but without visibility into what was trained, when, and on whose work, licensing alone risks becoming a rubber stamp on opacity. —Virginie Berger, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025

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