endorse

verb en·dorse \in-ˈdȯrs, en-\

: to publicly or officially say that you support or approve of (someone or something)

: to publicly say that you like or use (a product or service) in exchange for money

: to write your name on the back of (a check)

en·dorseden·dors·ing

Full Definition of ENDORSE

transitive verb

a : to write on the back of; especially : to sign one's name as payee on the back of (a check) in order to obtain the cash or credit represented on the face

b : to inscribe (one's signature) on a check, bill, or note

c : to inscribe (as an official document) with a title or memorandum

d : to make over to another (the value represented in a check, bill, or note) by inscribing one's name on the document

e : to acknowledge receipt of (a sum specified) by one's signature on a document

a : to approve openly <endorse an idea>; especially : to express support or approval of publicly and definitely <endorse a mayoral candidate>

b : to recommend (as a product or service) usually for financial compensation <shoes endorsed by a pro basketball player>

— en·dors·able \-ˈdȯr-sə-bəl\ adjective

— en·dors·ee \in-ˌdȯr-ˈsē, ˌen-\ noun

— en·dors·er \in-ˈdȯr-sər\ noun

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Variants of ENDORSE

en·dorse also in·dorse \in-\

Origin of ENDORSE

alteration of obsolete endoss, from Middle English endosen, from Anglo-French endosser, to put on, don, write on the back of, from en- + dos back, from Latin dorsum

First Known Use: 1581

Related to ENDORSE

Synonyms: advocate, back, champion, support (also indorse), patronize, plump (for), plunk (for) or plonk (for)

Synonym Discussion of ENDORSE

approve, endorse, sanction, accredit, certify mean to have or express a favorable opinion of. approve often implies no more than this but may suggest considerable esteem or admiration <the parents approve of the marriage>. endorse suggests an explicit statement of support <publicly endorsed her for Senator>. sanction implies both approval and authorization <the President sanctioned covert operations>. accredit and certify usually imply official endorsement attesting to conformity to set standards <the board voted to accredit the college> <must be certified to teach>.