Authorize: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when giving formal permission or power to do something, especially in official or legal contexts.

• The manager must authorize your leave request before you can take vacation.
• The bank has authorized the transaction.

Use when giving someone the authority, power, or confidence to do something. Often used in contexts related to personal growth, leadership, and motivation.

• The new policy aims to empower employees to make decisions.
• Education empowers individuals to overcome their challenges.

Use when granting permission for something, often involving rules, safety, or laws. Typically used in more formal contexts.

• The council will not permit construction on that land.
• Pets are not permitted in this building.

Use when accepting or agreeing to something, often after careful consideration or review. Can be used both formally and informally.

• My parents approve of my new job.
• The committee approved the budget for the next project.

Use when giving official permission or approval, often used in legal, political, or formal contexts. Can also mean imposing penalties or restrictions in a negative sense.

• The government sanctioned the new trade agreement.
• The athlete faced sanctions for breaking the rules.

Use when officially giving permission or power to someone to do something.

• The manager will authorize the purchase
• The teacher authorized the students to leave early

Use when assigning responsibility or a task to someone else, usually within a professional or organizational setting.

• The project manager decided to delegate the design tasks to the new team member
• During the meeting, he delegated the responsibilities to his team

Use when publicly or officially stating support for something or someone, often in marketing, politics, or official documents.

• The athlete endorsed the new sports drink
• The politician endorsed the new policy proposal

Use when formally confirming or validating something as true, usually by issuing a certificate or official document.

• The mechanic certified that the car was in good condition
• The doctor certified the cause of death

Use when making it possible for someone or something to do something, commonly by providing the necessary means or opportunity.

• The new software will enable us to work more efficiently
• Scholarships can enable students to pursue higher education

Used when giving official permission or power to someone to do something.

• Only the manager can authorize a refund for the customer.
• The government authorized the construction of the new highway.

Used when providing reasons or explanations to show that an action or decision is right or reasonable.

• He tried to justify his actions by saying he was under a lot of stress.
• The company has to justify its increased prices to angry customers.

Used when confirming the truth or correctness of something, often through evidence or authority.

• The scientist needed to validate her hypothesis with further experiments.
• Please validate this parking ticket before you leave the building.

Used when providing a reason for an action, often implying that there is a good or necessary reason. It can have a formal or negative connotation depending on use.

• The situation does not warrant such drastic measures.
• His behavior warranted a formal warning from the company.

Used when making something acceptable or recognized officially, often used with legal, social, or political institutions.

• The new law will legitimize the use of medical marijuana.
• They are trying to legitimize their cause through peaceful protests.