acceptance

noun

ac·​cep·​tance ik-ˈsep-tən(t)s 

ak-

1

: the quality or state of being accepted or acceptable

His theories have gained widespread acceptance.

2

: the act of accepting something or someone : the fact of being accepted : approval

acceptance of responsibility

3

law : an agreeing either expressly or by conduct to the act or offer of another so that a contract is concluded and the parties become legally bound

4

a

: the act of accepting a time draft or bill of exchange for payment when due according to the specified terms

b

: an accepted draft or bill of exchange

5

: acceptation sense 2

Examples of acceptance in a Sentence

her acceptance into the club

The university has sent me a letter of acceptance.

He delivered an acceptance speech after he was chosen as the party's presidential nominee.

Recent Examples on the Web

The study confirms that public tolerance for electricity theft is highly context-dependent, with greater acceptance when offenders face financial hardship and unreliable electricity access. —Dianne Plummer, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025

An auspicious Korean childhood culminates in acceptance to one of Seoul’s three most prestigious universities. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025

While Bregman seemed to have Boston atop his list all along, his wife’s acceptance to HBS appears to have been an important factor. —Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025

Feeling excluded from such findings, the filmmaker even goes searching through the annals of Polish history for significant non-white figures who contributed to the country and its culture — an African general, a Tahitian actress — as though acceptance could be a retroactive process. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 24 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French, "agreement to abide by the act on another," from accepter "to accept" + -ance -ance

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing acceptance

• acceptance speech
• banker's acceptance
• find acceptance
• self-acceptance
• trade acceptance

Rhymes for acceptance

• nonacceptance

Kids Definition

acceptance

noun

ac·​cep·​tance ik-ˈsep-tən(t)s 

ak-

1

: the act of accepting

2

: the quality or state of being accepted or acceptable