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 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
See All Example Sentences for authorize
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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
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 Jun. 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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