to authorize
Loading your saved state.
to authorize
To give someone formal permission or authorization, often recorded in writing, to act or make decisions on one's behalf.
Sie hat ihren Anwalt bevollmächtigt, den Vertrag für sie zu unterzeichnen.
She authorized her lawyer to sign the contract for her.
The verb is derived from the noun 'die Vollmacht' (power of attorney/authorization), which literally means 'full power.' To 'bevollmächtigen' (to authorize) someone therefore means to give them full power or permission for a specific action.
Mit einer Vollmacht können Sie eine andere Person bevollmächtigen, für Sie zu handeln.
With a power of attorney, you can authorize another person to act on your behalf.
The prefix 'be-' is firmly attached to the verb and is not separated. It stays at the beginning of the word in all tenses and sentence constructions.
Ich bevollmächtige Sie hiermit offiziell.
I hereby officially authorize you.
The structure is always: person 1 (subject) 'bevollmächtigt' (authorizes) person 2 (accusative object) to do something (infinitive with 'zu').
Der Chef bevollmächtigte seine Assistentin, die Dokumente zu prüfen.
The boss authorized his assistant to review the documents.
This word belongs to formal administrative and legal language. It is rarely used in normal everyday life.
Bitte bevollmächtigen Sie Ihren Rechtsbeistand schriftlich.
Please authorize your legal counsel in writing.
to allow
'erlauben' and 'bevollmächtigen' both mean that someone is allowed to do something. 'erlauben' is general and fits many normal situations: someone may or may not do something. 'bevollmächtigen' is more formal and more specific: a person receives authorization to act or make decisions on another person's behalf. Often there is a document for this. The words can be confused because a 'Vollmacht' (power of attorney / authorization) also includes permission. But not every permission is a 'Vollmacht'. For everyday situations, you say 'erlauben'; for representation at a bank, government office, or in a contract, you say 'bevollmächtigen'.
Beim Termin bevollmächtigt Anna ihren Bruder, die Unterlagen für sie abzuholen.
At the appointment, Anna authorizes her brother to pick up the documents for her.
Der Arzt erlaubt dem Patienten, ab nächster Woche wieder Sport zu machen.
The doctor allows the patient to start exercising again next week.