authorize

verb

au·​tho·​rize ˈȯ-thə-ˌrīz 

authorized; authorizing; authorizes

transitive verb

1

: to endorse, empower, justify, or permit by or as if by some recognized or proper authority (such as custom, evidence, personal right, or regulating power)

a custom authorized by time

2

: to invest especially with legal authority : empower

He is authorized to act for his father.

3

archaic : justify sense 1a

authorizer noun

Synonyms of authorize

• enable
• empower

Examples of authorize in a Sentence

The city council authorized the sale of the land.

Who authorized the transfer of the funds?

Recent Examples on the Web

He was authorized to work in the US and had been issued a Social Security number, according to the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition. — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

The petition also requests that the court authorize her mother to administer the estate under California’s Independent Administration of Estates Act and approve a $400,000 bond. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. — ABC News, 14 July 2026

From there, a certificate belonging to the motherboard or software maker that is embedded into the shim authorizes all software that’s subsequently loaded. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English auctorisen, autorisen, borrowed from Anglo-French auctorizer, autorizer, borrowed from Medieval Latin auctōrizāre, auctōrisāre, from Latin auctōr-, auctor "originator, creator, authority" + Late Latin -izāre -ize — more at author entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for authorize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• butterflies
• catalyze

Kids Definition

authorize

verb

au·​tho·​rize ˈȯ-thə-ˌrīz 

authorized; authorizing

1

: to give authority to

2

: to give legal or official approval to

authorization

ˌȯ-th(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən

noun

authorizer

ˈȯ-thə-ˌrī-zər

noun

Legal Definition

authorize

transitive verb

au·​tho·​rize ˈȯ-thə-ˌrīz 

authorized; authorizing

1

: to give permission to

2

: to give authority to act to

authorization

ˌȯ-thə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun