authorization
Americannoun
-
authorizations
plural
-
the act of authorizing.
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for September 18–September 24, 2021
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"CLEP Financial Accounting," Vocabulary from Chapter 8
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
The DHS statement addressed the issue: “To be clear, work authorization or a pending application do NOT confer legal status in the United States.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
“It was like the moment I pushed that button to submit for prior authorization, they didn’t even wait for my physician’s paperwork,” Noonan said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
Meta Platforms, Anthropic and OpenAI each disclosed incidents in which their models escaped testing environments and acted on the live internet without authorization.
From The Wall Street Journal ● 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," the order said.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
However, the executive order only bestowed temporary legal presence and work authorization.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
The update came on July 10, the original expiration date set for TPS holders’ work authorizations.
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 deal, subject to regulatory authorizations and to approval by Bio-Techne shareholders, will be funded through a combination of existing cash and new debt, Merck said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
TPS protects foreign nationals from removal and grants work authorizations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026
The royal decrees took the name of authorizations.
From Our War with Spain for Cuba's Freedom by Trumbull White
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.
