empowerment

noun

em·​pow·​er·​ment im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r-mənt 

plural empowerments

1

: the act or action of empowering someone or something : the granting of the power, right, or authority to perform various acts or duties

Malcolm X, the eloquent spokesman for black empowerment who, in 1965, was gunned down at the age of 39 in New York city, continues to influence the political, social, and cultural climate of our society.

—Joe Wood

Therefore, part of the cure for poverty was empowerment—training the residents of a poor neighborhood to organize themselves and learn to get things from the power structure.

—Nicholas Lemann

2

: the state of being empowered to do something : the power, right, or authority to do something

Education does not automatically result in women's empowerment, as the social and economic context in which women live can pose overwhelming constraints on their choices.

—Erin Murphy-Graham

The focus on getting a candidate elected is a way for voters wary of broken promises to gain a sense of empowerment.

—John Dutton

Amid the uproar, he and his fellow students felt a budding—and maybe false—sense of empowerment.

—James Graff

Like John Lennon, he brought the idea that through music, empowerment and words, you can really come up with world peace.

—Wyclef Jean

Synonyms

• accreditation
• authorization
• commission
• delegation
• license
• licence
• mandate

Examples of empowerment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the course of her career, Graham has been a trailblazer in the fashion industry, serving as an advocate for self-acceptance and female empowerment and leading the conversation on body diversity on the runway, on magazine covers and with brand partnerships. —Angelique Jackson, Variety, 2 Apr. 2024

While the core of its female empowerment message was largely praised, some pointed out the dangers of portraying misogyny as deriving from incompetence rather than malice. —Issy Ronald, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024

But the song’s spirit of empowerment, confidence and freedom have etched an enduring, decades-spanning connection with music fans. —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 31 Mar. 2024

During a 2023 interview with PEOPLE, the Desperate Housewives alum commented on how there was never a shortage of female empowerment in the Longoria household. —Emily Weaver, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2024

Luckily, there’s no shortage of non-profit organizations that need an extra hand, including animal shelters, business coaching, youth empowerment, women’s shelters, education, religious institutions, and more. —Cicely Jones, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

In addition to soil meditation experiences, Lawson hosts birthday parties, private gardening classes, bridal showers, women empowerment workshops and more at the shop. —Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024

The invaluable support and guidance provided by Kate and Sarah serve as a testament to the power of female empowerment and solidarity in the business world. —Stephanie Dillon, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2024

Through a blend of percussive power and aerial grace that presents males and females on equal footing, Trinity sends a clear message of female empowerment. —Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 15 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 2