authorization
Americannoun
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authorizations
plural
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the act of authorizing.
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a legislative act authorizing money to be spent for government programs that specifies a maximum spending level without provision for actual funds.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of authorization
Explanation
Authorization is an official form of approval for something. You'll probably need to get authorization from the owner of a coffee shop before you hang your oil paintings on the walls. People in control are known as authorities, and their official okay, or authorization, gives you the ability to do something. The authorization of a loan means the bank grants the loan. Authorization can also refer to someone's power — if you are able to fire people, you have the authorization to do so. At the root of authorization is the verb authorize, which comes from the Latin auctor, "master or leader," or "one who causes to grow."
Vocabulary lists containing authorization
The Other Side
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for September 18–September 24, 2021
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"CLEP Financial Accounting," Vocabulary from Chapter 8
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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.
See Examples For:
UnitedHealthcare overrode the prior authorization about 48 hours later, according to Noonan.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
"What it does mean is that the Defendants may not do so during the district court's expeditious litigation without securing Congress's authorization, as the Constitution and laws require," the order said.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
"What it does mean is that the Defendants may not do so during the district court's expeditious litigation without securing Congress's authorization, as the Constitution and laws require."
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
These individuals now face imminent loss of their work authorization and separation from their family members.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026
After authorization by President Arthur and the cabinet, Attorney General MacVeagh added two prominent trial attorneys to the prosecution team to assist Corkhill, who was a less-experienced criminal lawyer.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
Foreigners with TPS are protected from removal and can receive work authorizations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
The OIG report was based on 2024 data, and since then plans have voluntarily removed many prior authorizations, Donahue noted.
From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026
Sinoguards operates under “applicable flag state authorizations and regulatory requirements relevant to its operational scope,” he told The Wall Street Journal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026
The terminations took effect in the fall, with those who had work authorizations until October 2026 permitted to keep them.
From Salon ● Apr. 30, 2026
With the end of fighting, it became necessary to adjust war authorizations to the requirements of war liquidation and continuing national defense.
From State of the Union Address by Harry S. Truman
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.
