Unauthorize

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To withhold formal approval or permission so that an action, person, or use is no longer allowed by those in charge
2. Refusing to grant official sanction, so that something is done or held without proper authority
3. Declining to give the legal or formal permission that would allow a particular act or access to take place

Etymology: "Unauthorize" is a straightforward formation: the prefix "un-", meaning "not" or "reverse of," attached to "authorize." The prefix is native to English, descending from Old English "un-," and it has been productive for centuries, attaching to adjectives, nouns and verbs alike. "Authorize" itself comes from Old French "autoriser," which traces back to Latin "auctoritas," meaning authority, influence or power, drawn from "auctor," an author or originator. So the verb reads literally as "to take away the authority that was granted," the reverse of giving official permission. The sense of the word is therefore simply the opposite of "authorize": to revoke or withdraw sanction, or to make something no longer legitimate. It is a transparent coinage, so its meaning can be worked out from its parts without any special history behind it.

Synonyms: disallow, prohibit, forbid, ban, bar

Antonyms: authorize, sanction, approve, permit, license