empowerment

noun

em·​pow·​er·​ment im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r-mənt 

plural empowerments

1

: the act or action of empowering someone or something : the granting of the power, right, or authority to perform various acts or duties

Malcolm X, the eloquent spokesman for black empowerment who, in 1965, was gunned down at the age of 39 in New York city, continues to influence the political, social, and cultural climate of our society.

—Joe Wood

Therefore, part of the cure for poverty was empowerment—training the residents of a poor neighborhood to organize themselves and learn to get things from the power structure.

—Nicholas Lemann

2

: the state of being empowered to do something : the power, right, or authority to do something

Education does not automatically result in women's empowerment, as the social and economic context in which women live can pose overwhelming constraints on their choices.

—Erin Murphy-Graham

The focus on getting a candidate elected is a way for voters wary of broken promises to gain a sense of empowerment.

—John Dutton

Amid the uproar, he and his fellow students felt a budding—and maybe false—sense of empowerment.

—James Graff

Like John Lennon, he brought the idea that through music, empowerment and words, you can really come up with world peace.

—Wyclef Jean

Synonyms

• accreditation
• authorization
• commission
• delegation
• license
• licence
• mandate

Examples of empowerment in a Sentence

the empowerment of her husband to make medical decisions on her behalf is clearly stated in her living will

Recent Examples on the Web

Brown has a two-year-old foundation program under United Charitable that has a focus on youth empowerment in the city, as well as in Brown’s hometown in Mississippi. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 17 Jan. 2025

The coalition, with a shared vision of empowerment, adaptability, and long-term recovery, is seeking additional partners to join their efforts. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2025

Research has shown that maintaining a skincare routine can improve the condition of your skin and thus increase your feelings of empowerment, happiness, and self-esteem. —Amanda Svachula, Health, 13 Jan. 2025

Leveraging Marcus Garvey's vision for unity and empowerment A spokesperson for the Office of the Pardon Attorney within the Department of Justice declined to comment to Newsweek about whether a pardon for Garvey is being considered in Biden's waning days in office. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 12 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 2