reauthorize

Reauthorize is a verb meaning to authorize again or to grant renewed permission after expiration, withdrawal, or change in terms. It can apply to individuals, organizations, licenses, programs, or agreements. The related noun form, reauthorization, refers to the act or process of granting such renewed authorization.

In government and law, reauthorization often refers to extending the authorization of a program, law, or budget, sometimes after sunset provisions or with updated conditions. In licensing and contracts, entities may need to reauthorize ongoing rights or obligations when terms change or approvals lapse. Reauthorization can involve oversight, reporting requirements, and new funding or governance terms.

In technology and security, reauthorization describes renewing access rights or credentials. Some systems use refresh tokens to obtain new access tokens without user interaction, while others require an explicit reauthorization flow when permissions or policies change. Reauthorization in software can ensure continued access while addressing evolving security and privacy requirements.

Process and considerations: reauthorization typically requires review, compliance checks, and documentation. It may involve approval by governing bodies, updates to terms of use, risk assessments, and confirmation of continued need or eligibility. The term has spelling variants, including reauthorise in British English.

Examples: The legislature approved the reauthorization of the highway program for another five years. The application prompts users to reauthorize access to their data after a policy change. Overall, reauthorization denotes renewing the validity of authorization under revised conditions.