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 suspect, who is in custody, also was shot and had wounds that were not believed to be life-threatening, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
—
Arkansas Online, 28 Nov. 2025
The court order explicitly authorizes the administrator to act in relation to the memoir and its revenue.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
According to federal prosecutors, the company admitted that operations manager John Washburn and others recruited undocumented immigrants not authorized to work in the United States.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2025
The suspect who was in custody also was shot and had wounds that were not believed to be life-threatening, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.
—Alanna Durkin Richer, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authorize
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Arkansas Online, 28 Nov. 2025
The court order explicitly authorizes the administrator to act in relation to the memoir and its revenue.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
According to federal prosecutors, the company admitted that operations manager John Washburn and others recruited undocumented immigrants not authorized to work in the United States.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2025
The suspect who was in custody also was shot and had wounds that were not believed to be life-threatening, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.
—Alanna Durkin Richer, Fortune, 27 Nov. 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 30 Nov. 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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