# approval vs approve

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### approval
*noun · IPA /əˈpɹuːvəl/ · frequency rank #2,978*
An expression granting permission; an indication of agreement with a proposal; an acknowledgement that a person, thing, or event meets requirements.

### approve
*verb · IPA /əˈpɹuːv/ · frequency rank #6,208*
To officially sanction; to ratify; to confirm; to set as satisfactory.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/approval-vs-approve