rubber stamp

plural rubber stamps · alternative rubber-stamp · alternative rubberstamp

1. literallyA piece of rubber or similar material with a design or text carved or molded for the purpose of transferring ink or dye to imprint that design on another object.

   The library had a rubber stamp to imprint the due date.

2. figurativelyA person or organization that approves, routinely or as a formality, matters decided by some other person or organization.

   During the Roman principate, the senate largely served as a rubber stamp for the emperor.

alternative rubber-stamp · alternative rubberstamp

1. attributivefigurativelyOf a person, organization, or process, making decisions or approving matters routinely or without real power.

   rubber stamp diet

   3 more examples

   rubber stamp politics

   rubber stamp parliament

   rubber stamp legislature

present singular third person rubber stamps · participle present rubber stamping · participle past rubber stamped · past rubber stamped · alternative rubber-stamp · alternative rubberstamp

1. figurativelytransitiveTo process, approve or decide matters routinely rather than through careful consideration.

   They usually just rubber stamp orders under $100.