authorization
Americannoun
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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
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.
In Brazil, it’s illegal to possess a wild animal without authorization from the government.
From Slate • May 27, 2026
And applicants might struggle if they have any criminal history—even minor—or gaps in their work authorization.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
The moment he got his employment authorization, he announced a plan to take a job in Florida as a long-haul truck driver.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
Muse said he expects Nvidia to return $1 trillion to shareholders over the next five years, making its latest share authorization appear a bit dismal.
From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026
At some point earlier, Barack had received the authorization codes that would allow him to access the country’s nuclear arsenal and a briefing on the protocols for using them.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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.
