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 of authorize

• enable
• empower

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

Guidelines had barred most outlets from Pentagon The Pentagon had first issued guidance in September that said reporters could lose their press access by attempting to obtain or publish information not authorized for public release. —Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026

Aid is arriving in Cuba as people living in South Florida protest for the ability to safely return to the island nation and question the organizations authorized to deliver assistance. —Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026

Some went to court to challenge government refusals to authorize pickets, while others scaled them back to smaller indoor gatherings. —ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026

Indeed, this mismatch was the principal reason even conservative states like Kansas authorized trans people to update their birth certificates and drivers’ licenses. —Darren Rosenblum, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026

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