NIHIL OBSTAT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does nihil obstat mean? 

• NIHIL OBSTAT (noun)
  The noun NIHIL OBSTAT has 2 senses:

1. the phrase used by the official censor of the Roman Catholic Church to say that a publication has been examined and contains nothing offensive to the church

2. authoritative approval

  Familiarity information: NIHIL OBSTAT used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NIHIL OBSTAT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The phrase used by the official censor of the Roman Catholic Church to say that a publication has been examined and contains nothing offensive to the church

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("nihil obstat" is a kind of...):

countenance; endorsement; imprimatur; indorsement; sanction; warrant (formal and explicit approval)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Authoritative approval

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("nihil obstat" is a kind of...):

sanction (the act of final authorization)