authorization

noun

au·​tho·​ri·​za·​tion ˌȯ-th(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən 

1

: the act of authorizing

2

: an instrument that authorizes : sanction

Synonyms

• permission
• consent

Examples of authorization in a Sentence

you will need the authorization of the council before you can act

his authorization to go ahead with the project was finally given

Recent Examples on the Web

Any restaurant names or trademarks in the names of our recipes are included solely for reference and do not indicate any authorization or approval by their owners. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Aug. 2025

McLaughlin later disputed the allegation, stating that Singh is in the United States illegally and that his work authorization was rejected under the Trump Administration on Sept. 14, 2020. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025

About 800 National Guard members had already been activated in D.C. before additional state authorizations. —Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025

That measure requires the president to obtain congressional authorization within sixty days of initiating military action, or otherwise withdraw forces. —Chris Lehmann, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English auctorisation "legal validation of a document," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French auctorisacion "authorization," borrowed from Medieval Latin auctōrizātiōn-, auctōrizātiō "recognition as authoritative, authorization," from auctōrizāre "to authorize" + Latin -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing authorization

• emergency use authorization
• pre-authorization

Rhymes for authorization

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration