power of attorney

noun phrase

: a legal instrument authorizing one to act as the attorney or agent of the grantor

Examples of power of attorney in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Just days later, the group, which also included David Replogle, Daniel Carlos Garcia and Russell Manning, worked together to pose as Lambert, opened a bank account and granted Manning power of attorney. —Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025

After the killing, the group fabricated powers of attorney in Lambert’s name, drained hundreds of thousands of dollars from his bank account and tried to sell his home, Hightower said. —Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 10 Oct. 2025

This story also features the perspective of a New England dairy farmer with 48 employees, who has been given power of attorney for seven children on her farm whose parents fear for what would happen if they were separated. —Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025

The law, which took effect in June, also sees to it that agencies don’t hold power of attorney over a model’s digital likeness, which means that it can’t be arbitrarily tossed into contracts at the demand of a brand or retailer. —Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1716, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for power of attorney

• burnie
• gurney
• journey
• tourney
• mcburney

Legal Definition

power of attorney

: an instrument containing an authorization for one to act as the agent of the principal that terminates especially upon revocation by the principal or death of the principal or agent

called also letter of attorney

— durable power of attorney

: a power of attorney that becomes effective immediately and is not affected by the principal's subsequent incapacity or that becomes effective only upon the principal's incapacity

— general power of attorney

: a power of attorney authorizing the agent to carry on business or an enterprise for the principal compare special power of attorney in this entry

— health care power of attorney

: a power of attorney authorizing an agent to make health care decisions in the event of incapacity

called also medical power of attorney

— irrevocable power of attorney

: a power of attorney that cannot be revoked by the principal

— special power of attorney

: a power of attorney authorizing the agent to carry out a particular business transaction for the principal

— springing power of attorney

: a power of attorney that comes into effect only upon the occurrence of a specified condition (as the incapacity of the principal)