What does obtainment mean?
Obtainment means the act of getting or gaining something, particularly permission, consent, evidence, funding, or another form of entitlement. Its tone is formal and somewhat uncommon in ordinary conversation, where “getting” or “obtaining” is more usual. The noun is most often followed by “of,” as in “the obtainment of consent,” and it can give a procedural or legal character to the action it describes. This distinguishes it from “acquisition,” which may suggest the purchase of goods or the development of a personal quality, and from “achievement,” which normally emphasizes success or accomplishment. Although the word is not restricted to one region, it is encountered in British and American legal, governmental, and scholarly writing alike. Its uncommon status gives it a precise, elevated quality, making it particularly suitable when formality is appropriate.
nounThe act of obtaining or gaining possession of something. It is formal and relatively uncommon, especially when referring to the acquisition of permission, evidence, or an entitlement.
- The act of obtaining or gaining possession of something.
"The obtainment of written consent is required before the records may be disclosed."
"The obtainment of the necessary permits delayed the construction project."
"Her case depended on the obtainment of reliable evidence."
The plural is uncommon; it is used when referring to separate acts or instances of obtaining something.
"Repeated obtainments of the same authorization led to delays."
The word “obtainment” gives the plain act of getting something a distinctly formal, almost ceremonial air.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does obtainment come from?
“Obtainment” was formed from “obtain” and the suffix “-ment.” The base verb “obtain” entered English through Anglo-French “obtenir,” ultimately from Latin “obtinere,” a compound of the prefix “ob-” and “tenere,” meaning “to hold.” English words such as “retain,” “sustain,” “detain,” and “maintain” were independently formed from Latin verbs built on the same root “tenere.”
Related word forms
How obtainment is actually used
Relatively uncommon and formal. It is especially associated with legal, administrative, and academic contexts and is normally used in the pattern “the obtainment of something.”