reauthorize

verb

re·​au·​tho·​rize (ˌ)rē-ˈȯ-thə-ˌrīz 

reauthorized; reauthorizing; reauthorizes

transitive verb

: to authorize (something or someone) again

especially : to renew the authority or effective legal power, warrant, or right of

called for Congress to reauthorize the Clean Water Act

Since passage, each law has been amended or "reauthorized," a confusing process under which existing statutes are reenacted with new language.

—Gregg Easterbrook

reauthorization

(ˌ)rē-ˌȯ-th(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

plural reauthorizations

Congressional leaders are expected to continue negotiating a long-term reauthorization of the program in the coming weeks.

—Mike Debonis

Examples of reauthorize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The bill has not been reauthorized since 2018 and has been extended three times to prevent a lapse in agricultural and nutritional programs. — Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026

Although Congress reauthorized the National Levee Safety Program until 2028, appropriations have not been made to fully fund it. — Kaleigh Yost, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026

Earlier this year, both chambers proposed reauthorizing Great Lakes restoration funding as part of broader water legislation, but the House and Senate bills included different funding levels and timelines. — Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Pacific Gas & Electric was successful in inserting an end date for Wiener’s SB 868 balcony solar bill, so, if it is signed into law, the Legislature will have to reauthorize it before 2030. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for reauthorize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize