reauthorize

verb

re·​au·​tho·​rize (ˌ)rē-ˈȯ-thə-ˌrīz How to pronounce reauthorize (audio)
reauthorized; reauthorizing; reauthorizes

transitive verb

: to authorize (something or someone) again
especially : to renew the authority or effective legal power, warrant, or right of
called for Congress to reauthorize the Clean Water Act
Since passage, each law has been amended or "reauthorized," a confusing process under which existing statutes are reenacted with new language. Gregg Easterbrook
reauthorization noun
plural reauthorizations
Congressional leaders are expected to continue negotiating a long-term reauthorization of the program in the coming weeks. Mike Debonis

Examples of reauthorize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Congressional sources say that a year ago, only a feeble resistance to reauthorizing the surveillance was anticipated. Dell Cameron, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2024 The push to prohibit funding to Planned Parenthood could also thwart attempts to reauthorize a series of crucial taxes that fund Missouri’s Medicaid system. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 9 Feb. 2024 Letting the full bill languish negates a key idea behind reauthorizing the FAA every few years: Its initiatives are meant to be forward-looking and preventative, not reactive. Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Feb. 2024 Congress should reauthorize and enhance this program to meet this moment. Julie Wraithmell, Sun Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2024 The College Cost Reduction Act, introduced by Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., the chairwoman of the House education committee, is the GOP’s suggested template for finally reauthorizing the Higher Education Act, a sweeping 60s-era federal law that governs colleges. USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024 Lawmakers are also considering reauthorizing the 2017 Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act, a bipartisan law that supports research into improving predictions and better communicating them. Xin-Zhong Liang, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2024 The Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act was introduced and passed by the House Judiciary Committee last month as part of a bigger package aiming to reauthorize and reform the problematic US intelligence program known as Section 702. Dell Cameron, WIRED, 16 Jan. 2024 The Senate is set to take up a bill to reauthorize a series of crucial taxes that fund Medicaid. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reauthorize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reauthorize was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near reauthorize

Cite this Entry

“Reauthorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reauthorize. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!