empowerment

noun

em·​pow·​er·​ment im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r-mənt 

plural empowerments

1

: the act or action of empowering someone or something : the granting of the power, right, or authority to perform various acts or duties

Malcolm X, the eloquent spokesman for black empowerment who, in 1965, was gunned down at the age of 39 in New York city, continues to influence the political, social, and cultural climate of our society.

—Joe Wood

Therefore, part of the cure for poverty was empowerment—training the residents of a poor neighborhood to organize themselves and learn to get things from the power structure.

—Nicholas Lemann

2

: the state of being empowered to do something : the power, right, or authority to do something

Education does not automatically result in women's empowerment, as the social and economic context in which women live can pose overwhelming constraints on their choices.

—Erin Murphy-Graham

The focus on getting a candidate elected is a way for voters wary of broken promises to gain a sense of empowerment.

—John Dutton

Amid the uproar, he and his fellow students felt a budding—and maybe false—sense of empowerment.

—James Graff

Like John Lennon, he brought the idea that through music, empowerment and words, you can really come up with world peace.

—Wyclef Jean

Synonyms of empowerment

• mandate
• accreditation

Examples of empowerment in a Sentence

the empowerment of her husband to make medical decisions on her behalf is clearly stated in her living will

Recent Examples on the Web

On June 19, the celebration shifts online for a virtual summit filled with conversations, speakers, and presentations focused on education, empowerment, and community dialogue throughout the day. —Shelby Stewart, Essence, 14 May 2026

If the element of empowerment is missing, teams get frustrated and some may even shut down. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026

From May 12 to May 23, the iconic brand joins in celebrating the artistry, elegance and empowerment that define beauty, both on and off the red carpet. —Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026

The group’s mission is to increase women’s participation and opportunity in trail running and hiking through inspiration, education and empowerment. —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado may 13, Sacbee.com, 13 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for empowerment

• disempowerment