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.
Small businesses of up to 100 people known as Mipymes were authorized in 2021 and have become an important part of the island's economy.
From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026
You can check out more tips on picking your first credit card, and how to become an authorized user on a card, here.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 17, 2026
Those with knowledge of the situation who are not authorized to speak publicly on the matter said he had a stroke.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026
The startup aims to help companies manage the challenge of determining which actions AI agents are authorized to take.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026
General Pliyev, the Soviet commander in Cuba, was authorized to use his short-range atomic bombs in the case of an American attack.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
