greenlight
greenlight Lexical Profile
greenlight Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To give permission or formal approval to proceed with a project or undertaking (especially a film, television show, or business venture).
"The studio executives decided to greenlight the documentary after reviewing the initial footage."
• noun
Official permission or authorization to proceed with a project, plan, or action.
"The city council finally gave the greenlight for the new community center construction."
Word Nuance & Usage
Both 'greenlit' and 'greenlighted' are accepted past tense and past participle forms of the verb, though 'greenlit' has become increasingly common in modern business and entertainment journalism.
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the mid-20th century as a compound derived from the green traffic signal indicating permission to proceed, popularized especially within the Hollywood film industry.