Say it like this
- We need to put an approval gate in place before shipping.
- The feature is blocked at the approval gate waiting for stakeholder sign-off.
- Let's remove that approval gate — it's slowing down our releases.
Use it at work
Explaining the process
- There's an approval gate before anything goes to production.
- Security has an approval gate for new vendors.
Asking for a sign-off
- The deploy is waiting at the approval gate. Could you approve it?
- Who can approve this gate while Ana is away?
Improving the process
- This approval gate adds a day to every release.
- Can we remove the manual approval gate for small changes?
Don't say this
Approval gate is a noun (a checkpoint), not a verb. You add, implement, or establish an approval gate, but you do not approval gate something.
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your team wants to speed up releases. What do you say?
2. The security team added a new _______ to check for vulnerabilities before deployment.
3. Which sentence uses approval gate incorrectly?
4. Rewrite this sentence using 'approval gate': 'Before we can release, someone important has to say yes to the code.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"We need to put an approval gate in place before shipping."
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More about approval gate
Real examples(3)
- in a standup
"The mobile app release hit an approval gate yesterday; we're waiting for the security team to review the permissions."
- in a code review
"This change has to pass the architectural approval gate before we can merge it to main."
- in a team meeting
"To reduce bottlenecks, we're replacing manual approval gates with automated quality checks."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Do not use as a verb (approval gate it) — it is a checkpoint or stage, not an action. Say add an approval gate or implement approval gate instead.
- ✕The approval gate rejected the code.✓The reviewer at the approval gate rejected the code.
An approval gate is a stage or checkpoint; only people reject code. The gate itself does not make decisions.
- ✕We passed the approval gate so we can ship now.✓We cleared all approval gates so we can ship now.
You clear, pass through, or satisfy an approval gate, not pass it like an exam.
Other forms(2)
- approval gate noun
"The deployment has three approval gates: code review, security scan, and manager sign-off."
- approval gates noun (plural)
"We streamlined our approval gates to speed up the release cycle."
Often used with(5)
- implement an approval gate · To establish or create an approval gate in a process
- pass through an approval gate · To complete the requirements and move past the checkpoint
- stuck at an approval gate · Blocked or waiting at a checkpoint, unable to proceed
- remove an approval gate · To eliminate a checkpoint from the workflow
- approval gate delay · Time lost because of bottlenecks at a checkpoint
Similar words(4)
- checkpoint · Generic term for a stopping point; approval gate is more specific to decision-making stages
- control point · Broader term for any point where control is applied; approval gate emphasizes authorization
- sign-off stage · Emphasizes the approval aspect; approval gate includes all types of reviews, not just sign-offs
- review stage · Generic term for any review; approval gate implies a formal, mandatory decision point
Opposites(3)
- open release
- fast track
- bypass
Questions(5)
- What does approval gate mean in software engineering?
- An approval gate is a mandatory checkpoint in a development or deployment process where designated people or automated systems must review and approve work before it can move forward. It is a quality control and risk management mechanism.
- How do you use approval gate in a sentence at work?
- Example: 'We have an approval gate in our deployment process that requires two senior engineers to review the code.' Or: 'The feature is currently stuck at the security approval gate waiting for clearance.'
- Is approval gate formal or informal?
- Approval gate is neutral-to-formal. It is commonly used in both official documentation and casual team conversations, making it suitable for most professional tech environments.
- Can you use approval gate as a verb?
- No. Approval gate is a noun. You do not approval gate something. Instead, use phrases like add an approval gate, implement an approval gate, or pass through an approval gate.
- What is the difference between an approval gate and a code review?
- A code review is the process of examining code for quality and correctness. An approval gate is a checkpoint in a workflow that may include code review as one of its components. An approval gate is broader and can apply to design, security, compliance, or budget approvals.
