Entry 1 sense Webster, 1913 Approval /əp-ro͞ov'-əl/ · Ap·prov·al · IPA /əˈpɹuvəl/ 01 n. Approbation; sanction. 1. Approbation; sanction. “A censor . . . without whose approval n� capital sentences are to be executed.” — Temple. Syn. See Approbation.