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
By Friday, Marines had been deployed in Los Angeles, with little clarity on whether their guns contained live rounds and under what circumstances they were authorized to fire.
—
Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
An overwhelming 90% of the members of Vox Media Union had voted Thursday to authorize a strike if a deal was not reached by the time their current contract expired at 11:59 p.m.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 June 2025
Ducati Ducati has appointed 55 percent of its U.S. dealer network (130 total dealers) as authorized off-road dealers for the Desmo450.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
The department, however, also is authorizing the departure of nonessential personnel and family members from Bahrain and Kuwait.
—Arkansas Online, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for authorize
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Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
An overwhelming 90% of the members of Vox Media Union had voted Thursday to authorize a strike if a deal was not reached by the time their current contract expired at 11:59 p.m.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 June 2025
Ducati Ducati has appointed 55 percent of its U.S. dealer network (130 total dealers) as authorized off-road dealers for the Desmo450.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025
The department, however, also is authorizing the departure of nonessential personnel and family members from Bahrain and Kuwait.
—Arkansas Online, 12 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 16 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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