reauthorize

verb

re·​au·​tho·​rize (ˌ)rē-ˈȯ-thə-ˌrīz How to pronounce reauthorize (audio)
reauthorized; reauthorizing; reauthorizes

transitive verb

: to authorize (something or someone) again
especially : to renew the authority or effective legal power, warrant, or right of
called for Congress to reauthorize the Clean Water Act
Since passage, each law has been amended or "reauthorized," a confusing process under which existing statutes are reenacted with new language. Gregg Easterbrook
reauthorization noun
plural reauthorizations
Congressional leaders are expected to continue negotiating a long-term reauthorization of the program in the coming weeks. Mike Debonis

Examples of reauthorize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On the contrary, Congress has reauthorized the statute four times since its initial passage in 1965, and has only expanded, not narrowed its scope. David Cole, The New York Review of Books, 4 May 2026 Even some Democrats who had previously voted in favor of Section 702 in 2024 are now refusing to reauthorize the law without meaningful amendments. Jared Perlo, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026 The fate of a key government surveillance tool is expected to be decided next week, as House GOP leadership rushes to reauthorize the program before an April 30 deadline. Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2026 Johnson's latest proposal would reauthorize the program for three years, but does not include a warrant requirement. Eric McDaniel, NPR, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reauthorize

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reauthorize was in 1605

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Cite this Entry

“Reauthorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reauthorize. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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