verb (used with object), ap·pro·bat·ed, ap·pro·bat·ing.
- to approve officially.
verb (tr)
- Scots law to accept as valid
- approbate and reprobate Scots law to accept part of a document and reject those parts unfavourable to one’s interests
- mainly US to sanction officially
late 15c., from Latin approbatus, past participle of approbare “to assent to (as good), favor” (see approve). Related: Approbated; approbating.