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
Simply put, Global Payments, as a merchant acquirer, acts as a middleman between the merchant and card network to authorize and facilitate transactions.
—
Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 19 July 2025
But radio stations could go dark or cut programming after Congress voted to claw back federal funds given through Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private nonprofit authorized by Congress in 1967.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 19 July 2025
In light of the looming crisis, and despite federal rules that will likely end in litigation, Gov. Hochul can act boldly by issuing an emergency order to scale the spending flexibilities authorized under the waiver.
—Dr. Ashwin Vasan, New York Daily News, 18 July 2025
National Lighthouse Day falls on Aug. 7 in recognition of the Aug. 7, 1789, passage of a law authorizing the first federal lighthouse, the American Lighthouse Foundation says.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 17 July 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.
Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 19 July 2025
But radio stations could go dark or cut programming after Congress voted to claw back federal funds given through Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private nonprofit authorized by Congress in 1967.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 19 July 2025
In light of the looming crisis, and despite federal rules that will likely end in litigation, Gov. Hochul can act boldly by issuing an emergency order to scale the spending flexibilities authorized under the waiver.
—Dr. Ashwin Vasan, New York Daily News, 18 July 2025
National Lighthouse Day falls on Aug. 7 in recognition of the Aug. 7, 1789, passage of a law authorizing the first federal lighthouse, the American Lighthouse Foundation says.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 17 July 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 31 Jul. 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