empower

verb

em·​pow·​er im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce empower (audio)
empowered; empowering; empowers

transitive verb

1
: to give official authority or legal power to
empowered her attorney to act on her behalf
2
: enable sense 1a
… nootropic agents empower the lower amounts of acetylcholine in diseased brains to work overtime …Science News
3
: to promote the self-actualization or influence of
The American women's movement has been inspiring and empowering women for nearly 20 years …Ron Hansen
Members of our discipline often envision themselves as agents of social change who try to promote critique of dominant ideologies and empower students to become active participants in the larger political world.Christy Friend

Examples of empower in a Sentence

seeking changes in the workplace that will empower women the federal agency empowered to collect taxes
Recent Examples on the Web Through his strategic counsel and meticulous approach, Mr. Lucarelli has empowered entrepreneurs to navigate the complexities of mergers and acquisitions with confidence and clarity, paving the way for sustainable growth and success. Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024 Advocates for church-state separation say the number of bills seeking to fund and empower conservative religious beliefs has increased, to 1,200 now. Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 Seeing their love and pride in their hair empowered me. Debra Edwards, Essence, 21 Mar. 2024 The #MeToo movement empowered women to come forward with personal stories, ranging from drugging and rape to sexist behavior and misogyny. Karen Bliss, Billboard, 21 Mar. 2024 Sources: Financial Times, Pew Research Center, The Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report Maasai women are stepping into leading roles Challenging stereotypes and empowering their families, women in Kenya are assuming more duties in conservancies. Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2024 Over time, there has been a notable shift from stereotypical and often negative portrayals of Blackness, towards more diverse, nuanced, and empowering representations. Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2024 The legislation also empowers the city’s leader, known as the chief executive, to make new, related laws, which can carry penalties of up to seven years in prison, without going through the legislature. David Pierson, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024 State and local law enforcement officers have been empowered to jail migrants on trespassing charges. Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'empower.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of empower was in 1648

Dictionary Entries Near empower

Cite this Entry

“Empower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empower. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

empower

verb
em·​pow·​er im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce empower (audio)
: to give official authority or legal power to

Legal Definition

empower

transitive verb
em·​pow·​er im-ˈpau̇-ər How to pronounce empower (audio)
: to give official authority or legal power to
no branch of government should be empowered unilaterally to impose a serious penaltyL. H. Tribe

More from Merriam-Webster on empower

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