authorized
AmericanOther Word 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 environmental initiative was shelved in 2013 by president Rafael Correa, who authorized crude extraction in the Yasuni National Park after acknowledging the plan's economic failure.
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
The report doesn’t specify who authorized the deployment of the gas.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
StubHub said tickets can legitimately enter the secondary market early through presales or authorized partner allocations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
The researchers have applied for patents covering the technology in several countries, and two patents have already been authorized.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
Sometimes I had to wait my turn, as one of my porters, or another person authorized to be outside his cell, would be deep in discussion already.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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.
