preauthorization

American  

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

especially British, preauthorisation, or pre-authorization

noun

1. an act or instance of authorizing or giving official permission for something in advance, especially of authorizing a charge to an account before supplying goods or services.

   The surgeon can request preauthorization on your behalf to see if your insurance will cover the procedure.

   All car rentals are subject to a $2,500 credit card preauthorization.

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Etymology

Origin of preauthorization

First recorded in 1935–40; pre- ( def. ) + authorization ( def. )

Example Sentences

They pay directly to either bypass complicated or lengthy preauthorization processes, or because their health-insurance plans don’t cover GLP-1 medications for weight loss.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

They also did not present a warrant or any preauthorization allowing for an immigration raid on private property.

From Slate • Oct. 2, 2025

The medications are often not covered by private health insurance or subject to strict preauthorization requirements.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 11, 2023

A third said he needed preauthorization, noting, "It's a $3 pill, and we're not going to get preauthorization on a weekend."

From Salon • Jul. 30, 2023

Even getting preauthorization for a service or medication isn’t necessarily enough to prevent a so-called “retrospective denial” later on, as demonstrated by a 2020 Kaiser Health News investigation.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 19, 2022