Endorse vs. Sign — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 25, 2024
Endorse involves publicly supporting or approving something, while signing is the act of writing one's name to authenticate or agree to something.
Difference Between Endorse and Sign
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Endorsement usually means to publicly support or approve of something, such as a policy, product, or person. On the other hand, signing refers to the act of writing one's signature on a document, often to show agreement or compliance.
An endorsement can also extend to the context of checks where one signs on the back to authorize transactions. Whereas, signing a document typically involves creating a legally binding commitment or acknowledgment in various scenarios like contracts or agreements.
In the corporate world, endorsements are often used in marketing to enhance the credibility of a product through celebrity or expert approval. On the other hand, signatures are essential in formal business processes, serving as a personal certification of the information or terms outlined in business documents.
Socially, endorsements can influence public opinion and consumer behavior significantly due to the authority or popularity of the endorser. In contrast, signing a document usually does not have a direct impact on public opinion but is critical in legal and administrative contexts.
Endorsing involves adding credibility or support, often without any legal implications. Conversely, signing a document can have substantial legal consequences, binding an individual to the terms or statements contained within.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To approve or support
To write one's name
Context
Often public and social
Usually private and legal
Implication
Can be non-binding
Generally binding
Primary Use
Marketing, approvals
Contracts, agreements
Effect on Others
Influences opinions
Formalizes commitments
Compare with Definitions
Endorse
To support publicly.
Celebrities endorse products to increase their market appeal.
Sign
To write one’s name on a document.
Please sign your name on the dotted line.
Endorse
To back someone or something.
The former president endorsed the candidate.
Sign
To communicate via sign language.
She signed to her deaf colleague.
Endorse
To approve formally.
The CEO endorsed the new strategic plan.
Sign
To use a signature to authorize.
He signed the letter and sent it off.
Endorse
To sanction officially.
The policy was endorsed by the board.
Sign
To engage formally.
The artist signed a contract with the gallery.
Endorse
To sign a document on the back.
You must endorse the check at the back before depositing.
Sign
To indicate or signify.
Dark clouds sign the approach of a storm.
Endorse
To express approval of or give support to, especially by public statement; sanction
Endorse a change in policy.
Endorse a political candidate.
Sign
A sign is an object, quality, event, or entity whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else. A natural sign bears a causal relation to its object—for instance, thunder is a sign of storm, or medical symptoms a sign of disease.
Endorse
To recommend (a product), often in exchange for payment, as in an advertisement.
Sign
An object, quality, or event whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else
The shops are full, which is a sign that the recession is past its worst
Flowers are often given as a sign of affection
Endorse
To write one's signature on the back of (a check) to obtain the amount payable or to make the amount payable available to a third party or to the bearer.
Sign
A gesture or action used to convey information or an instruction
She gave him the thumbs-up sign
Endorse
To write one's signature on the back of (an instrument) to transfer the rights available under that instrument to another party.
Sign
A notice on public display that gives information or instructions in a written or symbolic form
I didn't see the ‘Stop’ sign
Endorse
To place (one's signature), as on a contract, to indicate approval of its contents or terms.
Sign
Each of the twelve equal sections into which the zodiac is divided, named from the constellations formerly situated in each, and associated with successive periods of the year according to the position of the sun on the ecliptic
A person born under the sign of Virgo
A sign of the Zodiac
Endorse
To acknowledge (receipt of payment) by signing a bill, draft, or other instrument.
Sign
The positiveness or negativeness of a quantity
The last four bits hold a pattern to represent the sign of the number
Endorse
To express support or approval, especially officially or publicly.
The president endorsed John Smith as senator.
Sign
Write one's name on (a letter, card, document, etc.) to identify oneself as the writer or sender
The card was signed by the whole class
Endorse
To write one's signature on the back of a cheque, or other negotiable instrument, when transferring it to a third party, or cashing it.
Sign
Use gestures to convey information or instructions
She signed to her husband to leave the room
Endorse
To give an endorsement.
Sign
Indicate with signposts or other markers
The footpath is signed by the gate
Endorse
(medicine) To report (a symptom); to describe.
Sign
Mark or consecrate with the sign of the cross
He signed himself with the cross
Endorse
(heraldry) A diminutive of the pale, usually appearing in pairs on either side of a pale.
Sign
Something that suggests the presence or existence of a fact, condition, or quality
A high temperature is a sign of fever.
Endorse
Same as Indorse.
Sign
An act or gesture used to convey an idea, a desire, information, or a command
Gave the go-ahead sign.
Endorse
A subordinary, resembling the pale, but of one fourth its width (according to some writers, one eighth).
Sign
Sign language.
Endorse
Be behind; approve of;
He plumped for the Labor Party
I backed Kennedy in 1960
Sign
A displayed structure bearing lettering or symbols, used to identify or advertise a place of business
A motel with a flashing neon sign outside.
Endorse
Give support or one's approval to;
I'll second that motion
I can't back this plan
Endorse a new project
Sign
A posted notice bearing a designation, direction, or command
An EXIT sign above a door.
A traffic sign.
Endorse
Guarantee as meeting a certain standard;
Certified grade AAA meat
Sign
A conventional figure or device that stands for a word, phrase, or operation; a symbol, as in mathematics or in musical notation.
Endorse
Of documents or cheques
Sign
Pl. sign An indicator, such as a dropping or footprint, of the trail of an animal
Looking for deer sign.
Sign
A trace or vestige
No sign of life.
Sign
A portentous incident or event; a presage
Took the eclipse as a sign from God.
Sign
(Medicine) An objective finding, usually detected on physical examination, from a laboratory test, or on an x-ray, that indicates the presence of abnormality or disease.
Sign
One of the 12 divisions of the zodiac, each named for a constellation and represented by a symbol.
Sign
To affix one's signature to
Signed the letter.
Sign
To write (one's signature)
Signed her name to the contract.
Sign
To approve or ratify (a document) by affixing a signature, seal, or other mark
Sign a bill into law.
Sign
To hire or engage by obtaining a signature on a contract
Signed a rookie pitcher for next season.
Sign up actors for a tour.
Sign
To relinquish or transfer title to by signature
Signed away all her claims to the estate.
Sign
To provide with a sign or signs
Sign a new highway.
Sign
To communicate with a sign or signs
Signed his approval with a nod.
Sign
To express (a word or thought, for example) in a sign language
Signed her reply to the question.
Sign
To consecrate with the sign of the cross.
Sign
To make a sign or signs; signal.
Sign
To communicate in a sign language.
Sign
To write one's signature.
Sign
A perceptible (e.g. visible) indication.
Their angry expressions were a clear sign they didn't want to talk.
Those clouds show signs of raining soon.
Those clouds show little sign of raining soon.
Signs of disease are objective, whereas symptoms are subjective.
The sharp sign indicates that the pitch of the note is raised a half step.
I gave them a thumbs-up sign.
Sign
Physical evidence left by an animal.
The hunters found deer sign at the end of the trail.
Sign
A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.
The sign in the window advertised a room for rent.
I missed the sign at the corner so I took the wrong turn.
Sign
A wonder; miracle; prodigy.
Sign
(astrology) An astrological sign.
Your sign is Taurus? That's no surprise.
Sign
(mathematics) Positive or negative polarity, as denoted by the + or - sign.
I got the magnitude right, but the sign was wrong.
Sign
A specific gesture or motion used to communicate by those with speaking or hearing difficulties; now specifically, a linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.
Sign
(uncountable) Sign language in general.
Sorry, I don't know sign very well.
Sign
A semantic unit, something that conveys meaning or information (e.g. a word of written language); a unit consisting of a signifier and a signified concept. sign (semiotics)]].
Sign
An omen.
"It's a sign of the end of the world," the doom prophet said.
Sign
(medicine) A property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, can be detected objectively by someone other than the patient.
Sign
A military emblem carried on a banner or standard.
Sign
To make a mark
Sign
To seal (a document etc.) with an identifying seal or symbol.
The Queen signed her letter with the regal signet.
Sign
(transitive) To mark, to put or leave a mark on.
Sign
(transitive) To validate or ratify (a document) by writing one's signature on it.
Sign
(transitive) More generally, to write one's signature on (something) as a means of identification etc.
I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.
Sign
To write (one's name) as a signature.
Just sign your name at the bottom there.
I received a letter from some woman who signs herself ‘Mrs Trellis’.
Sign
(intransitive) To write one's signature.
Please sign on the dotted line.
Sign
(intransitive) To finalise a contractual agreement to work for a given sports team, record label etc.
Sign
(transitive) To engage (a sports player, musician etc.) in a contract.
It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.
Sign
To make the sign of the cross
Sign
(transitive) To bless (someone or something) with the sign of the cross; to mark with the sign of the cross.
Sign
(reflexive) To cross oneself.
Sign
To indicate
Sign
(intransitive) To communicate using a gesture or signal.
Sign
(transitive) To communicate or make known (a meaning, intention, etc.) by a sign.
Sign
(transitive) To communicate using gestures to (someone).
He signed me that I should follow him through the doorway.
Sign
(intransitive) To use sign language.
Sign
(transitive) To furnish (a road etc.) with signs.
Sign
To determine the sign of
Sign
(transitive) To calculate or derive whether a quantity has a positive or negative sign.
Sign
That by which anything is made known or represented; that which furnishes evidence; a mark; a token; an indication; a proof.
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.
It shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
Sign
Something serving to indicate the existence, or preserve the memory, of a thing; a token; a memorial; a monument.
What time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men, and they became a sign.
Sign
Any symbol or emblem which prefigures, typifles, or represents, an idea; a type; hence, sometimes, a picture.
The holy symbols, or signs, are not barely significative; but what they represent is as certainly delivered to us as the symbols themselves.
Saint George of Merry England, the sign of victory.
Sign
A word or a character regarded as the outward manifestation of thought; as, words are the sign of ideas.
They made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
Sign
Hence, one of the gestures of pantomime, or of a language of a signs such as those used by the North American Indians, or those used by the deaf and dumb.
Sign
A military emblem carried on a banner or a standard.
The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted signs, which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets.
Sign
The twelfth part of the ecliptic or zodiac.
Sign
A character indicating the relation of quantities, or an operation performed upon them; as, the sign + (plus); the sign - (minus); the sign of division ÷, and the like.
Sign
Any character, as a flat, sharp, dot, etc.
An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.
Sign
To represent by a sign; to make known in a typical or emblematic manner, in distinction from speech; to signify.
I signed to Browne to make his retreat.
Sign
To make a sign upon; to mark with a sign.
We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and do sign him with the sign of the cross.
Sign
To affix a signature to; to ratify by hand or seal; to subscribe in one's own handwriting.
Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed,And let him sign it.
Sign
To assign or convey formally; - used with away.
Sign
To mark; to make distinguishable.
Sign
To be a sign or omen.
Sign
To make a sign or signal; to communicate directions or intelligence by signs.
Sign
To write one's name, esp. as a token of assent, responsibility, or obligation.
Sign
A perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened);
He showed signs of strain
They welcomed the signs of spring
Sign
A public display of a (usually written) message;
He posted signs in all the shop windows
Sign
Any communication that encodes a message;
Signals from the boat suddenly stopped
Sign
Structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted;
The highway was lined with signboards
Sign
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
Sign
(medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease;
There were no signs of asphixiation
Sign
Having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges);
He got the polarity of the battery reversed
Charges of opposite sign
Sign
An event that is experienced as indicating important things to come;
He hoped it was an augury
It was a sign from God
Sign
A gesture that is part of a sign language
Sign
A fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified;
The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary
Sign
A character indicating a relation between quantities;
Don't forget the minus sign
Sign
Mark with one's signature; write one's name (on);
She signed the letter and sent it off
Please sign here
Sign
Approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation;
All parties ratified the peace treaty
Have you signed your contract yet?
Sign
Be engaged by a written agreement;
He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18
The soprano signed to sing the new opera
Sign
Engage by written agreement;
They signed two new pitchers for the next season
Sign
Communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs;
He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture
The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu
Sign
Place signs, as along a road;
Sign an intersection
This road has been signed
Sign
Communicate in sign language;
I don't know how to sign, so I could not communicate with my deaf cousin
Sign
Make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate
Sign
Used of the language of the deaf
Common Curiosities
Is signing legally binding?
Yes, signing typically creates a legal commitment.
How do endorsements affect consumer behavior?
They can significantly influence consumer choices through perceived credibility.
What does signing a contract entail?
Writing one's name on a document to agree to the terms and create a legal obligation.
Can endorse have legal implications?
Usually, it does not, unless related to financial instruments like checks.
Why is signing important in business?
It formalizes agreements and ensures that parties are legally bound.
What are the risks of signing a document without reading?
One might agree to unfavorable terms unknowingly, leading to legal or financial issues.
What happens if a signature is forged?
It can lead to legal disputes and potential criminal charges.
What does it mean to endorse a product?
To publicly support or approve it, often used in marketing.
Are endorsements always paid?
Often, especially in commercial contexts, but not always.
Can an endorsement be retracted?
Yes, endorsers can withdraw their support, unlike a signature which is permanent on documents.
What are the consequences of not signing a required document?
It can result in the document or agreement being invalid or unenforceable.
What makes a good endorsement?
Credibility of the endorser and relevance to the product or cause.
How do endorsements impact a brand?
They can enhance brand reputation and trustworthiness.
What is the difference between digital signatures and handwritten signatures?
Digital signatures use encryption to secure documents, while handwritten signatures are physically written.
Can anyone sign a document on behalf of another?
Only if they are legally authorized, such as through power of attorney.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
