authorize

Alternative forms

• authorise (British)
• authourize (rare)

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French auctorisier, from Medieval Latin auctorizare, from Latin auctor.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɔθəɹaɪz/, /ˈɑθəɹaɪz/

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• (Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈɑθəɹaɪz/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɔːθəɹaɪz/
• Rhymes: -aɪz

Verb

authorize (third-person singular simple present authorizes, present participle authorizing, simple past and past participle authorized)

1. (transitive) To grant (someone) the permission or power necessary to do (something).

   The General Assembly authorized the Council to take up the matter.

2. (transitive) To permit (something), to sanction or consent to (something).

   The judge authorized the wiretapping.