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
Calculating the exact cost of the international travel authorized by Jones and Creeden is impossible, the trial brief says.
—
Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026
One company’s agreement with the Pentagon included language that said there should be human oversight over any missions in which the AI systems act autonomously or semiautonomously, according to a person familiar with the agreement who was not authorized to speak about it publicly.
—Ben Finley, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
General Counsel Karen Buffkin read a resolution that authorized the hiring of outside professionals to conduct a review of the system’s procedures for handling complaints and violations of policies.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
Californians also will cast ballots for the first time using the new Congressional district boundaries authorized with last November’s passage of Proposition 50.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for authorize
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026
One company’s agreement with the Pentagon included language that said there should be human oversight over any missions in which the AI systems act autonomously or semiautonomously, according to a person familiar with the agreement who was not authorized to speak about it publicly.
—Ben Finley, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
General Counsel Karen Buffkin read a resolution that authorized the hiring of outside professionals to conduct a review of the system’s procedures for handling complaints and violations of policies.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
Californians also will cast ballots for the first time using the new Congressional district boundaries authorized with last November’s passage of Proposition 50.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for authorize
Cite this Entry
“Authorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authorize. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
