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

The financial powers of attorney and healthcare directives are about your retirement years and not your death. —James Brewer, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025

Legal considerations, such as advanced directives, financial power of attorney, and healthcare proxy, may also be examined, which may necessitate the involvement of a lawyer. —Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 28 May 2025

The specific documents differ based on the size and complexity of an estate, but the core ones include a last will and testament, a durable power of attorney, a healthcare proxy or advance directive, and possibly a trust. —True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

An in-home caregiver fraudulently obtained power of attorney when her patient’s husband’s health declined and ultimately decided to remove him from life support, Michigan deputies said. —Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 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)