authorize

verb au·tho·rize \ ˈȯ-thə-ˌrīz \

Updated on: 3 Dec 2017

Definition of authorize

authorized; authorizing

transitive verb

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

She is authorized to act for her husband.

3 archaic : justify 1a

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authorizer

noun

See authorize defined for English-language learners

See authorize defined for kids

Examples of authorize in a Sentence

The city council authorized the sale of the land.
Who authorized the transfer of the funds?

Recent Examples of authorize from the Web

In regular session at 6 p.m., the council will consider a request to authorize a request for proposals to lease the Dove Library Cafe.

— laura groch, sandiegouniontribune.com, "On the agenda, Nov. 5," 5 Nov. 2017
At the end of September, Congress, in all its compassion wisdom, failed to authorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, which provides low-income health insurance to 9 million children.

— benjamin hart, Daily Intelligencer, "The End-Of-Year-Budget Fight Likely to Consume Congress," 29 Oct. 2017
The program is authorized at $1.5 billion, and congressional spending panels are poised to give it roughly one-third of that amount.

— zahra ahmad, Science | AAAS, "Filling the pipeline for computer science teachers," 2 Oct. 2017
In all seriousness though, the Pentagon is unlikely to authorize transfer to any non-Department of Defense agency.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "F-117 Stealth Fighter Set for Permanent Retirement," 12 Sep. 2017
Details of the meeting were disclosed by several people briefed on the proceedings who spoke only on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly.

— erica werner, The Seattle Times, "Trump overrules GOP with deal on spending, debt, Harvey aid," 7 Sep. 2017
Those are tougher for the system to even authorize looking at.

— isaac chotiner, Slate Magazine, "The Next War," 6 Sep. 2017
The state’s law, however, gives doctors more wiggle room to authorize medical exemptions — for example, for children with a family history of adverse reactions to vaccines.

— ana b. ibarra and barbara feder ostrov, Kaiser Health News, "Another Way For Anti-Vaxxers To Skip Shots For Schoolkids: A Doctor’s Note," 5 Sep. 2017
Writers Guild of America members have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, setting the stage for a work stoppage if their negotiators fail to reach a contract deal with studios by May 1.

— rebecca keegan, HWD, "Hollywood Writers Vote Yes on Strike," 24 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'authorize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.