What does disapprove mean?
To disapprove is to hold or express an unfavorable judgment about a person, action, idea, or thing — to consider it wrong, unsuitable, or unworthy of acceptance. In ordinary usage the verb nearly always appears with the preposition 'of', as in 'she disapproves of smoking', making clear what is being judged unfavorably. A more formal, chiefly institutional use drops the preposition: a committee or authority may 'disapprove' a plan or application, meaning it formally rejects it. The word sits at the opposite pole from 'approve', sharing with it the Latin root 'probare', meaning to test or judge something good. Its tone is measured rather than furious: one may disapprove quietly, without saying a word, though the noun form 'disapproval' often implies visible signs of displeasure. Because it names a stance rather than an action taken against something, 'disapprove' is a precise way to signal objection without describing any consequence.
To have or express an unfavorable opinion of something or someone.
"He disapproved of the way his colleagues handled the project."
Typically followed by 'of' when taking an object.
(Of a person or body with authority) to reject or refuse to sanction something formally.
"The board disapproved the merger proposal."
Formal and largely restricted to institutional contexts.
The 'dis-' in 'disapprove' simply reverses the Latin root 'probare' — 'to test and find good' — the same root that gives us the word 'proof'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of disapprove
'Disapprove' was formed in English in the late 16th or early 17th century from the prefix 'dis-' added to 'approve', which itself derives from the Latin 'approbare', 'to assent to or deem good', from 'probus' meaning 'honest, worthy, good'. The same Latin root underlies cognates such as 'probable', 'probe', 'reprove', and 'approbation'. The word has carried its core sense of unfavorable judgment since its earliest recorded uses.
Related word forms
How disapprove is actually used
In everyday use, 'disapprove' almost always takes the preposition 'of' when followed by its object ('disapprove of something'), whereas the transitive use without 'of' ('the board disapproved the plan') is more formal and typical of institutional contexts. The word carries a mildly formal register; in casual speech, phrases like 'frown on' or 'not be keen on' are common alternatives.
Easily confused with disapprove
'Disapprove' means to regard something unfavorably, while 'approve' means to regard it favorably or give it official permission — they are near-opposites.