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

• accredit
• certify
• charter [British]
• commission
• empower
• enable
• invest
• license
• licence
• qualify
• vest
• warrant

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

But a source with knowledge of PDD’s financial position, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they aren’t authorized to talk to the media, confirmed the numbers. —Tracy Wen Liu, WIRED, 21 Nov. 2023

He was authorized by the Shin Bet to speak publicly. —Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 19 Nov. 2023

In response, Biden has authorized three rounds of airstrikes, all in eastern Syria. —Abigail Hauslohner, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023

In some cases, rights holders won’t authorize streaming. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2023

The panel contacted roughly 40 witnesses, reviewed more than 170,000 pages of documents, and authorized 37 subpoenas. —Grace Ashford, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023

Editor’s picks Both Radcliffe and Holmes are executive producers of the doc, which subsequently feels extremely authorized. —Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2023

That the jurisdiction of the Orphans’ Court touching free Negroes and mulattoes, as now exercised by law, shall be so extended as to authorize them to give the preference in apprenticing such Negroes and mulattoes, to their former masters. —Anna Deavere Smith, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2023

Additional information about this settlement involving Dude Wipes can be found on its website, which was authorized by the court. —Jack Birle, Washington Examiner, 10 Nov. 2023

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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

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