rubber stamp

¹

noun

1. a device with a rubber printing surface that becomes coated with ink by being pressed on an ink-saturated pad, used for imprinting dates, addresses, standard designations or notices, etc., by hand.
2. a person or government agency that gives approval automatically or routinely.
3. such approval.

rubber-stamp

²

[ ruhb-er-stamp ]

verb (used with object)

1. to imprint with a rubber stamp.
2. to give approval automatically or without consideration:

   to rubber-stamp the president's proposals.

adjective

1. tending to give approval automatically or without due consideration:

   a rubber-stamp Congress that passed all the president's bills.

rubber stamp

noun

1. a device used for imprinting dates or commonly used phrases on forms, invoices, etc
2. automatic authorization of a payment, proposal, etc, without challenge
3. a person who makes such automatic authorizations; a cipher or person of little account

verb

1. to imprint (forms, invoices, etc) with a rubber stamp
2. informal.
   to approve automatically

Word History and Origins

Origin of rubber stamp¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Origin of rubber stamp²

First recorded in 1915–20; v. use of rubber stamp

Idioms and Phrases

A person or organization that automatically approves or endorses a policy without assessing its merit; also, such an approval or endorsement. For example, The nominating committee is merely a rubber stamp; they approve anyone the chairman names , or The dean gave his rubber stamp to the recommendations of the tenure committee . This metaphoric term alludes to the rubber printing device used to imprint the same words over and over. [Early 1900s]

Example Sentences

Whether you’re speeding up tedious paperwork or crafting a unique handmade gift, rubber stamps still have an irreplaceable role in our increasingly digital world.

From Popular-Science

The post Make a custom rubber stamp to leave your mark on everything appeared first on Popular Science.

From Popular-Science

Finally, use strong wood glue to secure the rubber stamp to the bottom of its new wooden base.

From Popular-Science

While the state Constitution places appointments in the governor’s hands, in practice the executive office acts as nothing more than a rubber stamp.

From ProPublica

Even though the state Constitution places magistrate appointments in the governor’s hands, in practice the executive office acts mostly as a rubber stamp.

From ProPublica

Ad after ad I saw described Hagan as a “rubber stamp,” almost zombie-esque follower of Obama.

From The Daily Beast

He was egotistical even as a child, it is noted, infatuated with the sight of his name on a rubber stamp and later as a byline.

From The Daily Beast

He leaves it to his deputy, Ian McConnel, to rubber stamp the deal?

From The Daily Beast

But the rubber stamp that he began carrying after all his good fortune was surely with him.

From The Daily Beast

“They really are a rubber stamp, but they are a required rubber stamp,” Gilchrist said.

From The Daily Beast

This matrix, obtained by a coating from the type or cut, will serve as the mould for the final rubber stamp.

From Project Gutenberg

I was having a slightly more elaborate version compressed into a rubber stamp for all literary matter connected with the hut.

From Project Gutenberg

That sort of thing was just a novel-writer's rubber-stamp convention.

From Project Gutenberg

I do not know what knowledge and what skill are necessary before this rubber stamp is conferred upon a man.

From Project Gutenberg

A locally made rubber-stamp cancellation found in several sub-varieties.

From Project Gutenberg