Imprimatur

Pronunciation ,

UK IPA: /ËŒÉªm.pÉ¹ÉªËˆmÉ‘Ë.tÊŠÉ™/, /ËŒÉªm.pÉ¹ÉªËˆmeÉª.tÊŠÉ™/
US IPA: /ËŒÉªm.pÉ¹ÉªËˆmÉ‘.tÉš/, /ËŒÉªm.pÉ¹ÉªËˆmeÉª.tÉš/

Origin

From Latin imprimatur ("let it be printed"), third person singular present subjunctive passive form of imprimere ("to imprint").

Full definition of imprimatur

Noun

imprimatur

(plural imprimaturs or imprimantur)

(printing) An official license to publish or print something, especially when censorship applies.

1664, John Wilson, The Cheats, publication info page:The Cheats Â· A Comedy Â· Written in the Year, M.DC.LXII. Imprimatur, Roger L'estrange. Nov. 5. 1663. By John Wilson

(by extension) Any mark of official approval.

1988, New York Times, Gay fiction comes home, http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE3D91330F93AA25755C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=3:Children, the final imprimatur to family life, are being borrowed, adopted, created by artificial insemination.