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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
And representative government turns into rubber-stamp politics. Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2025 The City Council was expected to rubber-stamp the Commission’s denial a week later, but the project was removed from the agenda after the developer withdrew the proposal. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
In a series of rulings over the past month on Trump's emergency requests to override low-level judicial roadblocks, the high court's conservative majority has been neither a rubber stamp for the president nor an aggressive check on his prerogative. Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2025 The vote is typically a formality where council members rubber stamp the mayor’s selection, announced last week. Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rubber-stamp

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

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Cite this Entry

“Rubber-stamp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rubber-stamp. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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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