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
- deauthorization noun
- misauthorization noun
- preauthorization noun
- reauthorization noun
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.
Reinforcing its strong fundamentals, it recently expanded its share-repurchase authorization, which now represents a potential buyback yield of 7.1%.
From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026
In 2022, the Park Service notified company officials that the mine was operating without authorization and demanded that it cease work until it submitted an operations plan and won the agency’s approval, those documents state.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
The agency this year launched a pilot program to require prior authorization in traditional Medicare for treatments that are especially vulnerable to fraud.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026
After further amendments, the latest version of the text seen by AFP no longer mentioned authorization to use force, even defensively.
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
"She didn't have proper authorization," said the Warden.
From "Holes" by Louis Sachar
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.
