authorization

American  

[aw-ther-uh-zay-shuhn] / ˌɔ θər əˈzeɪ ʃən /

especially British, authorisation

noun

• authorizations
  plural

1. the act of authorizing.

2. permission or power granted by an authority; sanction.

3. a legislative act authorizing money to be spent for government programs that specifies a maximum spending level without provision for actual funds.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• deauthorization
  noun
• misauthorization
  noun
• preauthorization
  noun
• reauthorization
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• authorizations
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of authorization

First recorded in 1600–10; authorize + -ation

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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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

authorization authorizations

For institutional investors, it highlights the need for independent custody, segregated assets, multi-layered transaction authorization and limiting exposure to a single exchange, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

However, services that were used as a control group — and did not need prior authorization — showed no significant change in usage patterns, according to the study.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

Also, researchers should study patient outcomes, the physicians’ burden to meet the prior authorization threshold and Medicare spending over the longer term, the study said.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

The company said Tuesday the authorization allows it to buy back shares at any time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

“Er, miss, we don’t have authorization for that,” the guard replied.

From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Medicare Advantage plans offer extra benefits such as vision and dental coverage and cap annual out-of-pocket costs but have a limited choice of doctors and extra requirements or prior authorizations for specialist referrals.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

Some took the announcement that work authorizations remained in place — made late Wednesday by U.S.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

Amazon Pharmacy manages the entire process, including verifying eligibility, handling prior authorizations, and initiating enrollment, once a clinician submits an electronic GLP-1 prescription, the company said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

The update came on July 10, the original expiration date set for TPS holders’ work authorizations.

From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026

He had full authorizations and passports, and was going about his business in a perfectly proper manner.

From Korea's Fight for Freedom by F. A. (Frederick Arthur) Mckenzie

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Related Words

• approval
• authority
• endorsement
• green light
• sanction
• signature

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