Endorsement
/ɪnˈdɔːrsmənt/
nounB2
Definition
Endorsement means giving your public support or approval to something or someone. It is often used when a famous person supports a product, or when a group agrees with an idea. This support helps others trust or believe in the person or thing being endorsed.
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⚡ See It in Action
Public approval or support, especially from a well-known person
- •The singer gave her endorsement to the new smartphone brand.
- •The politician received endorsements from several important leaders.
- •Many customers trust products with celebrity endorsements.
Official approval or validation, often in business or legal contexts
- •The bank requires an endorsement on the check before cashing it.
- •The contract needs the endorsement of the company director.
- •His endorsement on the document made it legally valid.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "endorsement" like "approval," but it is given openly and to many people, not just quietly or personally
- ✓Picture a famous athlete smiling and holding a product on TV, showing they like it and want others to buy it
- ✓It's the feeling when someone you respect says, "I trust this, you can too," making you more confident
- ✓Sounds like "in-DORSE-ment" → imagine a door opening wide, letting good opinions flow out to everyone
- ✓Remember when celebrities say "I recommend this," which helps the product become popular
- ✓NOT like "agreement" (which can be private or between few people)—endorsement is public and meant for many to see
- ✓NOT like "support" (which can be quiet or personal)—endorsement is a clear, open statement of approval
- ✓NOT like "advertisement" (which is paid to promote)—endorsement is usually a personal or trusted recommendation
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Support: help or backing (Use when the help is less formal or not public)
- •Recommendation: suggestion that something is good (Use when someone advises others to choose or trust something)
- •Approval: acceptance or agreement (Use when the agreement is official or formal)
- •Backing: strong support, often financial or public (Use when support is strong and active)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "en-" (a prefix meaning "to cause" or "to put into") + "dorse" (from Latin "dorsum" meaning "back") + "-ment" (a noun suffix meaning "result or action")
- •Etymology: From Latin "indorsare," meaning to write on the back (originally about signing checks or documents)
- •Historical development: Started as a legal term for signing the back of a document to approve it; now also means public support or approval
- •Modern usage: Used in business, politics, sports, and marketing to show public support or approval, often to influence others
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How does a public endorsement from a famous person affect your opinion about a product or idea?
•Can endorsements be misleading? How can you tell if an endorsement is honest or just for money?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.A celebrity's endorsement can ___ a product’s popularity very quickly.
2.The politician sought ___ from community leaders to gain more votes.
3.Unlike quiet support, endorsement is always ___ and visible to many people.
4.When signing a check, the endorsement is usually written on the ___ of the paper.
5.A good endorsement often includes a personal ___ explaining why the product is trustworthy.
6.Not all endorsements mean full agreement; sometimes they are given for ___ reasons.
7.The company asked for an official endorsement to ___ the contract before signing.