authorize
verb
au·tho·rize
ˈȯ-thə-ˌrīz 
authorized; authorizing; authorizes
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
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
An examiner shall have authority to accept such payment from any person authorized by this Act to make an application for listing, and shall issue a receipt for such payment.
—
JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025
Federal prosecutors said Bolton sent the materials to two relatives — reportedly his wife and daughter — who were not authorized to view them and later failed to alert the FBI that his personal email account had been compromised in a 2021 cyberattack allegedly carried out by Iran.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025
Thirdly, there’s the first official and authorized documentary on Lydia’s mother, Patricia Hearst — granddaughter of publishing titan William Randolph Hearst — which Lydia herself will co-direct and produce.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
In a tribunal hearing in December 2024 that upheld an earlier decision to bar Yang from the UK, it was revealed that Yang was authorized to act on Prince Andrew’s behalf during business meetings with potential Chinese investors in the UK.
—Max Foster, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authorize
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025
Federal prosecutors said Bolton sent the materials to two relatives — reportedly his wife and daughter — who were not authorized to view them and later failed to alert the FBI that his personal email account had been compromised in a 2021 cyberattack allegedly carried out by Iran.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025
Thirdly, there’s the first official and authorized documentary on Lydia’s mother, Patricia Hearst — granddaughter of publishing titan William Randolph Hearst — which Lydia herself will co-direct and produce.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
In a tribunal hearing in December 2024 that upheld an earlier decision to bar Yang from the UK, it was revealed that Yang was authorized to act on Prince Andrew’s behalf during business meetings with potential Chinese investors in the UK.
—Max Foster, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authorize
Cite this Entry
“Authorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authorize. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
noun
ˌȯ-th(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən
authorizer
noun
ˈȯ-thə-ˌrī-zər
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share