authorization
The system requires user authorization before granting access.
The system needs official permission from the user before allowing entry.
The act of giving official permission or approval for something to happen.
The court issued an authorization for the search of the premises.
The court legally permitted the police to search the property.
Often used in legal contexts to describe formal approval.
Permission granted to a user or system to perform specific actions.
The administrator revoked the employee's authorization to access the database.
The admin removed the employee's permission to view the database.
Common in cybersecurity and IT systems to control access.
A document or legal instrument that grants permission.
She presented her authorization to the border guard.
She showed the official document that permitted her entry.
Can refer to the physical or digital document itself.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish from 'authentication'
Authentication verifies identity (e.g., passwords), while authorization determines what an authenticated user is allowed to do (e.g., access levels).
Gold Rule
Use in formal contexts
Prefer 'authorization' over 'permission' in legal, technical, or business documents to emphasize formality and structure.
Word Origin
From Late Latin *auctorizatio*, meaning 'empowerment,' derived from *auctorizare* (to empower), from Latin *auctor* (author, creator, promoter). The term entered English in the late 15th century via Old French.
Usage Notes
Authorization implies a formal, often legal or institutional, granting of permission. It is stronger than 'permission' or 'consent' as it often involves a structured process (e.g., signing documents, passing security checks). In technology, it specifically refers to access control mechanisms.