authorized
AmericanOther Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of authorized
Explanation
Something that's authorized is officially approved. If the principal of your school has given you the go-ahead to throw a Hawaiian-themed party, you can call it an authorized luau. The adjective authorized comes from the verb authorize, which means "give formal approval or sanction to." Both words go back to the Latin root auctor, "authority." So when an authority grants her approval or permission to do something, it becomes authorized. You'll need an authorized passport if you want to travel to a foreign country.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Two longtime energy traders — who asked for anonymity because they were not authorized by their employers to speak publicly — said the activity looked suspicious enough to undermine confidence in the market.
From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026
They requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the case.
From Salon • May 6, 2026
The lawsuit also names Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, who the publishers claimed allegedly personally authorized and actively encouraged the copyright infringement.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026
Campa-Najjar argues military force should be a last resort and must be authorized by Congress, while warning against unilateral actions that “escalate conflict without accountability.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
Suggestions for a new constitution were to come from the people themselves, and ANC leaders all across the country were authorized to seek ideas in writing from everyone in their area.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
