reauthorize

verb

re·​au·​tho·​rize (ˌ)rē-ˈȯ-thə-ˌrīz 

reauthorized; reauthorizing; reauthorizes

transitive verb

: to authorize (something or someone) again

especially : to renew the authority or effective legal power, warrant, or right of

called for Congress to reauthorize the Clean Water Act

Since passage, each law has been amended or "reauthorized," a confusing process under which existing statutes are reenacted with new language.

—Gregg Easterbrook

reauthorization

(ˌ)rē-ˌȯ-th(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

plural reauthorizations

Congressional leaders are expected to continue negotiating a long-term reauthorization of the program in the coming weeks.

—Mike Debonis

Examples of reauthorize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held a hearing Wednesday focused on reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). —The Hill Staff - 05, The Hill, 14 May 2025

That background led to his work in Congress to reauthorize and modernize federal programs to provide vocational and technical education opportunities. —Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025

These federal grants, reauthorized under the March 2020 CARES Act, help fund nursing pathways and the availability of high-quality nursing care for patients nationwide. —Kymberlee Montgomery, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025

The Second Chance Act The Second Chance Act (SCA) is a significant piece of U.S. federal legislation, first enacted in 2008 and subsequently reauthorized under the First Step Act. —Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for reauthorize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize