aprobation

Aprobation is a noun meaning formal approval or sanction granted by an authority. It denotes official endorsement of a plan, action, document, or appointment and carries an implication of legitimacy or compliance with established rules or standards.

The word derives from the Latin approbatio, from approbare “to approve,” and entered English through Old French and Early Modern English. In standard modern usage, the preferred form is approbation; aprobation is considered a less common or historical variant and may appear as an orthographic variant in older texts or in certain dialectal or translational contexts.

In practice, approbation of a measure may come from governmental bodies, courts, religious authorities, institutions, or committees. It is often contrasted with disapproval or rejection and can imply tacit support or formal consent that enables subsequent steps, such as implementation, funding, or licensing. Phrases such as “received the approbation of the council” or “without the approbation of the regulator” reflect its formal characteristic.

Aprobation is distinct from probation, a separate concept referring to a trial period or testing phase during which performance is evaluated. In contemporary English, approbation is more common in formal or literary contexts; the more everyday equivalent is approval or sanction.

See also: approbation, approval, disapproval, sanction, endorsement, consent.