appraisal

IPA/əˈpreɪzl/
KK[əprˈezəl]IPA/əˈpreɪzl/

appraisal — noun

  • appraisalsingular
  • appraisalsplural

1. a careful judgment about how good, useful, successful, or valuable someone or so

1.nounC1
Definition

a careful judgment about how good, useful, successful, or valuable someone or something is

Example

The museum asked two experts for an appraisal of the old vase.

appraisal of + object

Before buying the farm, Rosa wanted a full appraisal of the land.

collocation: full appraisal

Common collocations
  • careful appraisal
  • full appraisal
  • honest appraisal
  • appraisal of the property
  • appraisal of the plan
Synonyms
  • assessment

    a broad neutral word for judging quality, condition, or effect

  • evaluation

    often sounds slightly more formal and systematic

  • review

    can be less formal and may suggest looking back over something

  • valuation

    narrower and mainly about money value

Grammar Patterns

an appraisal of something

ask for an appraisal

give an appraisal

Usage Note

Often follows appraisal of + noun, especially when people judge work, plans, buildings, or other property. Distinguish from sense 2, which names the formal workplace meeting or review system.

Common Mistakes

The bank asked an appraisal for the house.
The bank asked for an appraisal of the house.
appraisal usually follows ask for and then links to the thing judged with of.

2. a formal meeting, or the system of such meetings, where a worker and manager dis

2.nounC1
Definition

a formal meeting, or the system of such meetings, where a worker and manager discuss job progress, future aims, and support needed

Example

Nina prepared notes before her appraisal with the store manager.

appraisal with + manager

During the appraisal, Omar asked for more training on the new system.

Common collocations
  • annual appraisal
  • staff appraisal
  • appraisal meeting
  • appraisal system
  • appraisal with your manager
Synonyms
  • performance review

    a close workplace equivalent that stresses job performance

  • review

    shorter and less specific, so context must show it is about work

  • evaluation

    more formal and can be used in many settings beyond work

  • feedback session

    focuses on discussion and advice rather than the official process

Grammar Patterns

have an appraisal

an appraisal with your manager

appraisal system

Usage Note

Common in workplace English, especially in British use, for staff review meetings and the official process around them. Distinguish from sense 1, which can judge any person, thing, or plan and does not have to involve an employee and manager.

Common Mistakes

My boss will appraisal me tomorrow.
My boss will do my appraisal tomorrow.
appraisal is a noun; workplaces usually say do, have, or hold an appraisal.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For sense 1, appraisal suggests a careful judgment after someone has looked at the facts, details, or condition of something. Assessment is the broadest near-synonym and works for many kinds of judgment, from damage to student progress. Evaluation is often a little more formal and can suggest a planned method or set of standards. Review is looser and may simply mean looking back over something. Valuation is narrower than appraisal because it usually focuses on money value. A bank may ask for an appraisal of a damaged house, while a teacher writes an assessment of a student and a buyer requests a valuation before a sale.

appraisal ↗assessment ↗evaluation ↗review ↗valuation ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • ask for an appraisal
  • give an appraisal

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Appraisal was formed in English from appraise and the noun ending -al. Appraise came through French from a Latin source linked with putting a price on something. That older idea of fixing value still shows in modern uses, but the word is now also used for broader judgments of quality, performance, or needs.