authorization
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the official power or permission to do something.
the state of being formally granted permission or the act of conferring such power. Often uncountable in this sense.
Simple“You cannot enter the restricted area without written authorization from the manager.”
In context“The project cannot proceed to the implementation phase until we receive final authorization from the board of directors.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'for' or an infinitive 'to'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a document that gives you the formal right to do something.
a physical or digital document that serves as a warrant or formal sanction for an action.
Simple“The guard asked to see her travel authorization before letting her pass.”
In context“The inspector requested a copy of the environmental authorization to ensure the facility was operating within legal limits.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
official permission to spend a specific amount of money.
formal permission, typically legislative or administrative, to expend funds for a designated purpose.
Simple“The department is waiting for budget authorization to hire new staff.”
In context“The committee granted a multi-year authorization for the infrastructure project, ensuring that funding would remain stable through the construction phase.”
Teacher's tipIn government contexts, an 'authorization' often creates the legal framework for a program, while an 'appropriation' actually provides the cash.
Synonyms
“A hospital fully bound by HIPAA may release certain types of records without your authorization and without telling you.”
“Businesses required appropriate authorization for the music they transmitted, an obligation that was frequently overlooked.” The earliest music-on-hold players relied on endless-loop cassette cartridges.”
From authorize + -ation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.