authorized
AmericanOther Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of authorized
Explanation
Something that's authorized is officially approved. If the principal of your school has given you the go-ahead to throw a Hawaiian-themed party, you can call it an authorized luau. The adjective authorized comes from the verb authorize, which means "give formal approval or sanction to." Both words go back to the Latin root auctor, "authority." So when an authority grants her approval or permission to do something, it becomes authorized. You'll need an authorized passport if you want to travel to a foreign country.
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.
The program’s respected veteran , Lesley Stahl, is pondering her future as well amid the massive changes, according to people familiar with her thinking who were not authorized to speak publicly.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
The FDA recently authorized the company to initiate an expanded access treatment protocol for daraxonrasib for eligible patients.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026
This means the Mine Safety and Health Administration is authorized to inspect it, regulate it and fine the people who work there, as if they were at a mine pulling coal out of the earth.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
In the US, the FDA has authorized Valeda Light Delivery System, a different light based device for selected patients with dry AMD.
From Science Daily • May 27, 2026
On July 4, 1956, Eisenhower authorized the first secret U-2 flight over the Soviet Union.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
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.
