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.
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 New text released by GOP leadership is in line with a section-by-section outline obtained earlier by The Hill as the House grappled with how to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) past its April 30 expiration. Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 23 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reauthorize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reauthorize. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster