What does "empower" mean?

1. (to give confidence and control) to help someone feel more confident and give them more control over their life or work. 2. (to give legal authority) to give someone the official or legal right to do something.

How do you use "empower"?

Often used in social, political, or corporate contexts regarding personal growth and autonomy. Typically followed by an object and a 'to' infinitive.

empower

US //ɪmˈpaʊɝ// UK //ɛmpˈaʊɐ// em·pow·er

1 to give confidence and control (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to help someone feel more confident and give them more control over their life or work.

to enable an individual or group to gain greater self-determination and influence over their circumstances.

Example

The new manager wants to empower her team to make their own decisions.

Example

The workshop was designed to empower young entrepreneurs by providing them with the networking tools and financial literacy required to scale their businesses.

Usage

Often used in social, political, or corporate contexts regarding personal growth and autonomy.
- enable
- emancipate
- strengthen
- disenfranchise
- oppress
2 to give legal authority (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal Law

to give someone the official or legal right to do something.

to invest with official authority or legal power to perform a specific action.

Example

The law empowers the police to search vehicles under certain conditions.

Example

The treaty empowers the international commission to monitor carbon emissions and impose sanctions on member states that fail to meet their targets.

Usage

Typically followed by an object and a 'to' infinitive.
- forbid
- prohibit

Origin

From em- + power.

Word family

Verbempower
Nounempowerment
Adjectiveempowered
Adjectiveempowering