In this paper, we introduce weak versions (the weak approximation property, the bounded weak approximation property, and the quasi approximation property) of the approximation property and derive various characterizations of these properties. And we show that if the dual of a Banach space X has the weak approximation property (respectively the bounded weak approximation property), then X itself has the weak approximation property (respectively the bounded weak approximation property). Also we observe that the bounded weak approximation property is closely related to the quasi approximation property. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.