rubber-stamp

1 of 2

verb

rub·​ber-stamp ˈrə-bər-ˈstamp How to pronounce rubber-stamp (audio)
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 criticismH. L. Mencken
b
: a routine endorsement or approval

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 last time, when Iger picked Chapek, the board rubber-stamped it. Kim Masters, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Oct. 2024 Additional debt issuance in China is typically subject to formal approval by its rubber-stamp parliament, which is expected to meet in coming weeks. Reuters, CNN, 11 Oct. 2024
Noun
Brown is casting Moreno as a wealthy businessman who is out for himself, and Moreno, R-Ohio, slams Brown as a career politician who is a rubber stamp for President Joe Biden and Harris. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 13 Oct. 2024 Having a regulatory framework gives the industry a broad rubber stamp to keep chugging along now that the rules are clearer and the few bad apples have been rooted out. Whizy Kim, Vox, 13 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rubber-stamp 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rubber-stamp.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1893, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rubber-stamp was in 1873

Dictionary Entries Near rubber-stamp

rubber stamp

rubber-stamp

rubber thread

Cite this Entry

“Rubber-stamp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rubber-stamp. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on rubber-stamp

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