empower
empower Lexical Profile
empower Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To make someone stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights.
"The community program aims to empower young entrepreneurs through mentorship and financial literacy workshops."
To give someone the official authority or legal power to do something.
"The new legislation will empower regulatory agencies to impose stricter penalties on corporate polluters."
• Rhymes for empower
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-17th century from the prefix em- (a variant of en- meaning 'to put into') and the noun power, which traces back through Old French povoir to Vulgar Latin potere ('to be able'). Originally used in legal and administrative contexts to mean granting official authority, it gained its modern sociopolitical sense of fostering self-confidence and autonomy in the late 20th century.