To "authorize" means to give official permission or approval for something to happen. This process often involves a person or organization granting rights to another party, allowing them to perform specific actions or access certain resources. For example, a manager may authorize an employee to make purchases on behalf of the company. In many contexts, authorization is crucial for security and compliance. For instance, in the digital world, authorization ensures that only permitted users can access sensitive information or systems. This helps protect data and maintain the integrity of operations within organizations, such as banks or government agencies.