nihil obstat

/ˈnɪhɪl ˈɒbstæt/

noun

A declaration of no objection; (specifically) a declaration used by the Catholic Church to indicate a book, initiative, or appointment to an office has been found to not breach religious or moral norms.

OriginLatin nihil obstat →
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Meanings

nounnihil obstat (plural nihil obstats)

plural nihil obstats

  1. A declaration of no objection; (specifically) a declaration used by the Catholic Church to indicate a book, initiative, or appointment to an office has been found to not breach religious or moral norms.

    This ingenious plan expressed in a booklet by the Italian Roman Catholic priest had received three Nihil Obstats and two Imprimaturs from his bishop.

    1943, Elisabeth Achelis, The Calendar for Everybody, New York: G. P. Putnam's sons, page 53

Origin

  1. Latinnihil obstat
  2. Englishnihil obstat

Borrowed from Latin nihil obstat, from nihil (“nothing”) + obstat (“hinders”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Spanish nihil obstat
  • nihil obstatTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

nihil obstat. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nihil%20obstat

MLA

“nihil obstat.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nihil%20obstat. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nihil obstat,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nihil%20obstat.

Source: nihil obstat on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.