authorization

noun

au·​tho·​ri·​za·​tion ˌȯ-th(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən 

1

: the act of authorizing

2

: an instrument that authorizes : sanction

Synonyms

• permission
• consent

Examples of authorization in a Sentence

you will need the authorization of the council before you can act

his authorization to go ahead with the project was finally given

Recent Examples on the Web

The president tied the authorization to his efforts to go after drug smuggling. —Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025

Drones cannot be used to collect personal information or record individuals in private settings without proper authorization. —Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 15 Oct. 2025

What To Know The most contentious part of AB 495 involves the caregiver’s authorization affidavit—a form that lets relatives make school and medical decisions for children whose parents are temporarily unavailable. —Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

Her father agreed to support us financially until my work authorization was approved. —R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English auctorisation "legal validation of a document," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French auctorisacion "authorization," borrowed from Medieval Latin auctōrizātiōn-, auctōrizātiō "recognition as authoritative, authorization," from auctōrizāre "to authorize" + Latin -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing authorization

• emergency use authorization
• pre-authorization

Rhymes for authorization

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration