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

The alert also relayed that the FDA had authorized these monitors for wired functionality only. —Christian Espinosa, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

The Sacramento County of Education authorized a separate audit in 2018 that raised similar concerns about internal practices. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025

To be sure, Canva’s security and trust teams still vet all potential AI tools before employees are authorized to use them. —John Kell, Fortune, 25 June 2025

In exchange for preserving the garden, Marte has agreed to three site-specific rezonings authorizing hundreds more units of affordable housing than could otherwise have been built without rezonings. —Randy Mastro, New York Daily News, 24 June 2025

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
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• butterflies

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