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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
“A covert, unauthorized action by the United States on Mexican territory would create a serious crisis,” said Tony Payan, director of the Center for the U.S. and Mexico at Rice University.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2025
“She heard also loud and clear that this was an unauthorized action by the governor,” she added, “unilaterally changing the way that child abuse is interpreted.”
From New York Times • Mar. 11, 2022
“This order ensures this unauthorized action will be corrected,” Stitt’s order states.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 10, 2021
After rumors of possible wildcat strikes, union leadership warned members against taking unauthorized action.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 16, 2021
Upon his return, Moerner was ordered to leave the capital, by the minister of state, who blamed him for his unauthorized action.
From Norwegian Life by Clough, Ethlyn T.
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.
