Meaning & use
permitted or authorized
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
Allowed by a rule, law, or person in charge, or given official approval to do something.
Grammar: Used as an adjective phrase after a noun or after the verb 'be': 'activities permitted or authorized by the school'.
Patterns
- permitted or authorized by someone
- permitted or authorized to do something
Only activities permitted or authorized by the school may take place on campus.
The report lists all payments permitted or authorized under the contract.
Common combinations
- permitted or authorized by law
- Such actions are permitted or authorized by law.
- permitted or authorized representative
- The form must be signed by a permitted or authorized representative.
- permitted or authorized use
- The software is for permitted or authorized use only.
Synonyms and how they differ
- allowed
- More everyday and less formal; it simply means not forbidden.
- authorized
- Focuses on official power or approval, while 'permitted' focuses on not being forbidden.
Opposites
Word family
- permit verb
- To allow something.
- authorize verb
- To give official permission for something.
- permission noun
- The act of allowing someone to do something.
Commonly confused: permitted or authorized or permitted?
permitted or authorized vs permitted
'Permitted' means allowed; 'authorized' means given official power. A thing can be permitted (not forbidden) without being authorized (officially approved).
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'permitted or authorized' correctly.
Choose one answer.
The phrase is used in the passive: 'is permitted or authorized by...'. The other options use active verbs, which change the meaning or are ungrammatical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “permitted or authorized”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.