Definition

Noun: 1. Official approval (especially from the Roman Catholic Church): A declaration that a publication has been examined by a Church censor and contains nothing contrary to faith or morals, permitting it to be printed. 2. Figurative authoritative sanction: A general expression meaning official approval or authorization, implying that no objections have been found.

Usage

• The term is used formally to indicate that a work, especially a religious or theological text, has passed an official review.
• It can be used in a broader, often humorous or ironic, secular context to signify that something has received a stamp of approval from an authority.

Examples

• The theological manuscript could not be published until it received the bishop's .
• Before the policy was implemented, it needed the from the legal department.
• "My editor gave the article her , so it's ready for print."

Advanced Usage

• "to receive/grant a nihil obstat": The common phrasing for obtaining or giving this type of approval.
  • The controversial book never received a nihil obstat from the diocesan censor.
• Used metaphorically outside of religious contexts to emphasize a thorough review and clearance.
  • The final design has the CEO's nihil obstat, so we can proceed with production.

Variants and Related Words

• Imprimatur (n): The subsequent and final official license to print or publish, granted by a bishop or Church authority, often following a . In general use, it means an official seal of approval.
• Approval (n): The general act of agreeing to or accepting something.
• Sanction (n): Official permission or approval for an action.

Synonyms

• Approval
• Clearance
• Authorization
• Imprimatur (in its general sense)
• Endorsement

Antonyms

• Rejection
• Censure
• Prohibition
• Veto
• Condemnation

Notes

• The phrase is Latin, meaning "nothing hinders" or "nothing stands in the way."
• In formal Catholic publishing, a is typically granted by a censor (often a theologian), while an ("let it be printed") is granted by a bishop or other Church authority. The is a prerequisite for the .
• Its use in secular English is often stylistic, lending a tone of formal or ironic authority to the concept of approval.

Noun

1. authoritative approval
2. the phrase used by the official censor of the Roman Catholic Church to say that a publication has been examined and contains nothing offensive to the church