Signoff

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A formal confirmation or approval is rendered, indicating the termination of communication or the conclusion of a process
2. An official affirmation or consent is issued, denoting the end of a transaction or a correspondence
3. A conclusive endorsement or authorization is provided, marking the end of a conversation or the completion of an activity

Etymology: "Signoff" is formed from the phrasal verb "sign off," which combines "sign" with the adverb "off." To sign off originally meant to write one's signature at the end of a document, and by extension to close a letter or broadcast. The noun grew out of that verb by a process called deverbalization, in which a verb is turned into a noun without adding a suffix, so the noun is essentially the verb's action treated as a thing. The noun's sense shifted from the act of closing a letter or message to the broader idea of formal approval. Someone who gives a signoff is putting their name to something to show it is complete or acceptable, and the same word can describe the moment a radio or television program ends with its closing remarks. The meaning thus moves from the physical act of writing a name to the abstract notion of official endorsement.

Synonyms: approval, consent, authorization, confirmation, endorsement

Antonyms: disapproval, denial, refusal, rejection, opposition