What does authorise mean?
'Authorise' means to grant official permission for something to occur, or to formally empower someone to carry out a task or act on another's behalf. It belongs chiefly to formal registers — legal documents, corporate policy, government regulation — where it signals that an action has been sanctioned by a recognised body rather than merely tolerated. A bank may authorise a payment; a parliament may authorise a treaty; a manager may authorise an employee's expenses. The word implies legitimacy: whatever is authorised carries the weight of proper institutional backing, in contrast to something merely permitted informally. Spelling varies by region, with '-ise' preferred in Britain and much of the Commonwealth, and '-ize' in the United States. Derived forms such as 'authorisation', 'authorised', and 'unauthorised' are common in everyday administrative language, making this a versatile verb worth knowing precisely.
To give official, legal, or formal permission for something to be done.
"The council authorised construction of the new library last spring."
Typically used with a direct object naming the action permitted, often followed by a noun phrase or gerund.
To empower someone to act or make decisions on behalf of an organisation or individual.
"He authorised his assistant to sign the contract in his absence."
Often used in passive constructions: 'was authorised to do something'.
Despite its Latin-sounding pedigree, 'authorise' entered English through French — and it's the '-ise' spelling that quietly marks you as writing British English, since Americans swapped it out for '-ize' centuries ago.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of authorise
'Authorise' derives from the Old French verb 'autoriser', itself built on the Latin root 'auctor', meaning originator or one who gives increase, from which we also get 'author' and 'authority'. The word entered Middle English around the late medieval period, initially spelled with various forms before settling into modern use. Its cognates include 'authentic' (from Greek via Latin) and the family of words built on 'authority'. The '-ise/-ize' suffix reflects the French-derived ending that English adopted alongside many verbs of similar formation.
Related word forms
How authorise is actually used
Formal register, typical of legal, administrative, and business contexts. The spelling with -ise is standard in Britain and most Commonwealth countries; -ize dominates in the United States. The verb carries an implication of legitimate, institutional sanction rather than casual permission.
Easily confused with authorise
Both mean exactly the same thing; 'authorise' is the standard British spelling while 'authorize' is the standard American spelling.