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

• aper
• copycat
• copyist
• echo
• follower
• imitator
• wannabe
• wannabee

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 gist: Feel free to rubber-stamp this new TV bill, but for the love of Pete don’t let these NFL guys invade our fall Saturdays. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Dec. 2024

By requiring the Department of Energy to approve LNG export applications within 90 days — or to approve them automatically — this bill rubber-stamps these projects regardless of the public health consequences. —Peggy Shepard, New York Daily News, 14 Dec. 2024

Noun

In this environment, human choice, with the corresponding ethical judgment, is more of a rubber stamp than an informed decision: the operator already trusts the sensors that gathered the data and the systems that analyzed it and designated the targets. —Sebastian Elbaum, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2024

However, it is designed as a rubber stamp with little power to veto budgets and appointments, said Paul Huang, a research fellow at Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation. —Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1893, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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