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
The scale of the destruction shocked and infuriated Cutright, according to a different source familiar with the incident who did not want to be identified because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
—
Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025
The Washington Post said the claim appears to be based on information submitted to the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, which monitors the safety of shots approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Five states currently authorize execution by firing squad, including Utah.
—Amanda Castro
joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
As of late 2023, 27 states had authorized some form of roadside oral fluid screening.
—Andrew Yockey, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authorize
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Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025
The Washington Post said the claim appears to be based on information submitted to the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, which monitors the safety of shots approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Five states currently authorize execution by firing squad, including Utah.
—Amanda Castro
joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
As of late 2023, 27 states had authorized some form of roadside oral fluid screening.
—Andrew Yockey, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 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 17 Sep. 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
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