authorization

Noun

1. An act of authorizing.
   • Our proposal thus envisages a new procedure for the authorization of experimental program - 1966, Education at Berkeley, page 116:
   • His authorization of decapitation targeting is incompatible with his theory of limited war - 1985 May 5, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, volume 41, number 5, page 46:
   • Its purpose is to govern the authorization of credit institutions and the provision of financial services throughout the EC. - 1990, Horst Ungerer, The European monetary system: developments and perspectives, page 36:

   Synonyms: assent consent sanction accedence allowance approbation approval assentment authorization

2. The state of being authorized to do something or to be somewhere; formally granted permission.
   • I've got authorization. Call the office and you'll see.

   Synonyms: authority leave sanction allowance authorization clearance consent license mandate permission permit warrant

3. A document giving formal sanction, permission or warrant.
   • Can I see your authorization?
4. Permission, possibly limited, to spend funds for a specific budgetary purpose.
   • We've had the authorization for years, but we've never gotten an appropriation.