agréer

Agréer has two everyday uses: formally, to accept or approve something (agréer une demande, un fournisseur agréé), and in fixed letter-closing formulas, veuillez agréer, Monsieur, mes salutations distinguées — one of the most recognizable phrases in written French correspondence.

• La banque a agréé sa demande de prêt. — The bank approved his loan application.
• Veuillez agréer, Madame, mes salutations distinguées. — Please accept, Madam, my distinguished regards. (formal letter closing)
• C'est un fournisseur agréé par le ministère de la Santé. — It's a supplier approved by the Ministry of Health.

Learners write "veuillez agréer l'expression de mes salutations distinguées" — strictly, agréer already means "to accept", so pairing it with l'expression de is considered redundant by purists; the traditionally correct form is simply veuillez agréer, Monsieur, mes salutations distinguées.

• expression Veuillez agréer, Monsieur/Madame, mes salutations distinguées — The standard closing formula of formal French letters and emails, built directly on agréer in its "accept favorably" sense — one of the most recognizable fixed phrases in written French correspondence.