# authorized

/ˈɔθɝˌaɪzd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/authorized
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. officially allowed

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

having official permission to do something or to be in a certain place.

For teachers: having official sanction or legal permission; often used to describe personnel, documents, or access rights.

- Only authorized staff are allowed to enter the laboratory after hours.
- The security guard refused entry to the visitor, noting that only authorized personnel with valid identification were permitted beyond the lobby.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes.

### 2. gave permission

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

the past tense of 'authorize', meaning you gave official permission for something to happen.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'authorize', meaning to grant official power or permission.

- The manager authorized the payment for the new office equipment yesterday.
- The board of directors authorized the merger after reviewing the final financial reports and legal recommendations.

Usage: As a transitive verb, it requires a direct object, often an action or a financial transaction.

## Examples

- The manager authorized the refund for the customer.
- Only the security supervisor is authorized to access the server room after business hours.
- The board of directors authorized the CEO to negotiate the merger, provided that the final terms were presented for a vote before the end of the fiscal year.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.