# endorse

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɪnˈdɔːs/ · frequency rank #12,416

## Definitions
1. To express support or approval, especially officially or publicly; to give an endorsement.
2. To write one's signature on the back of a cheque, or other negotiable instrument, when transferring it to a third party, or cashing it.
3. To add penalty points to one's driving licence as a result of a road traffic offence.
4. To report (a symptom); to describe.

## Etymology
Alteration influenced by Medieval Latin indorsare of Middle English endosse, from Old French endosser (“to put on the back”), from Latin dossum, alternative form of dorsum (“back”), from which also dorsal (“of the back”). That is, the ‘r’ was dropped in Latin dossum, which developed into Old French and then Middle English endosse, and then the ‘r’ was re-introduced into English via the Medieval Latin indorsare, which had retained the ‘r’. Note that the alternative spelling indorse also uses the initial ‘i’ from Latin (in-, rather than en-), but this form is now rare.

## Easily confused with
- **endure** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/endorse-vs-endure)
- **enforce** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/endorse-vs-enforce)
- **encore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/encore-vs-endorse)
- **Enders** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/enders-vs-endorse)

## Common misspellings (10)
`ednorse`, `enddorse`, `endores`, `endorrse`, `endorsse`, `endosre`, `endrose`, `enndorse`, `enodrse`, `nedorse`

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