Definition of AUTHORIZE

authorize

Verb

  • grant authorization or clearance for
    • "The rock star never authorized this slanderous biography"
  • give or delegate power or authority to
    • "She authorized her assistant to sign the papers"
  • To grant (someone) the permission or power necessary to do (something); to permit; to sanction or consent to.

Examples

  • The General Assembly authorized the Council to take up the matter.
  • The judge authorized the wiretapping.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English auctorisen, from Old French auctorisier, from Medieval Latin auctorizare, from Latin auctor.
See author about the orthography with ⟨h⟩. Doublet of octroy.

Antonyms

ban, deauthorize, prohibit

Scrabble Score: 21

authorize: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
authorize: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
authorize: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 21

authorize: valid Words With Friends Word