authorization

American  

[aw-ther-uh-zay-shuhn] / ˌɔ θər əˈzeɪ ʃən /

especially British, authorisation

noun

• authorizations
  plural

1. the act of authorizing.

2. permission or power granted by an authority; sanction.

3. a legislative act authorizing money to be spent for government programs that specifies a maximum spending level without provision for actual funds.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• deauthorization
  noun
• misauthorization
  noun
• preauthorization
  noun
• reauthorization
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• authorizations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of authorization

First recorded in 1600–10; authorize + -ation

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

authorization authorizations

Sankar noted that the current $35 billion authorization is less than the gross profit of about $47 billion that Micron posted in its most recent quarter alone.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026

A new State Department warning Thursday says U.S. government officials now need special authorization to use the Riyadh airport.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

That’s why we’re cautiously hopeful that after the midterms, Congress will seize the opportunity to make prior authorization and broader insurance marketplace reforms a priority.

From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2026

Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore seemed to agree, writing recently that the eventual authorization of fresh buybacks could serve as a catalyst for the stock.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

However, the executive order only bestowed temporary legal presence and work authorization.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Under the program, which launched in January, prior authorizations for about 6.4 million Americans enrolled in traditional Medicare in New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona and Washington state are being carried out by AI.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

Some took the announcement that work authorizations remained in place — made late Wednesday by U.S.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

Haitian immigrants across the country received an eleventh-hour relief Friday as the government extended work authorizations for Haitians with temporary protected status.

From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026

Doctors and forensic experts in the port examined bodies under tarpaulins held up by four poles before issuing death certificates and cremation authorizations.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

The war authorizations will also be reduced 3'7 billion dollars by carrying receipts of revolving accounts to surplus, by lapses, and by cancellation and repayment of commitments of the Government war corporations.

From State of the Union Address by Harry S. Truman

Related Words

• approval
• authority
• endorsement
• green light
• sanction
• signature