authorization

American  

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

especially British, authorisation

noun

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

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

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

Only 7% of Advantage medical claims require prior authorization, and 98% of them are approved.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Kluska noted that Soleno recently received its Day 180 questions from the European Medicines Agency, or the final set of queries that must be answered in order to secure a marketing authorization.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

Leon stated that the president is the “steward” of the White House, not its “owner,” and ruled that he cannot proceed with such a massive structural change without express authorization from Congress.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

When he went to visit a young physicist at MIT, William Shockley, Kelly chatted with him and then called New York for authorization to make an offer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

They discovered that security was slapdash, paintings were moved without authorization, and the museum photographers ran the place.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

Related Words

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