empower
To give someone the authority, confidence, or freedom to do something and control their own destiny.
Unlike 'delegate' which focuses on the task, 'empower' focuses on the person, building their capability, confidence, and systemic right to make decisions.
Word relationships
- enable: 'Enable' focuses on providing the practical means or tools, whereas 'empower' includes giving legal authority and psychological confidence.
- franchise: 'Franchise' (or enfranchise) specifically refers to giving legal rights, especially the right to vote, whereas 'empower' is broader and more personal.
- disenfranchise: 'Disenfranchise' means to deprive someone of a right or privilege, rendering them powerless.
- constrain: 'Constrain' means to severely limit someone's freedom or ability to act.
Commonly confused with
- authorize: 'Authorize' is a formal, legalistic granting of permission, while 'empower' is more holistic, focusing on confidence and self-determination.
Word family
- empowerment (noun): The granting of power, right, or authority to perform various acts or duties.
Collocations
- empower employees
- empower individuals
- feel empowered
- empower communities
Example sentences
- "The new CEO sought to empower frontline employees to resolve customer complaints without seeking managerial approval." An article on modern corporate culture.
Memory hook
Break it down: 'Em-' (to put inside) + 'Power'. You are literally pouring power and confidence into someone's heart. Pour power in.
When not to use
Avoid using it in purely mechanical or technical contexts (e.g., 'the battery empowers the device' is incorrect; use 'powers' or 'enables' instead).
Fun facts
- The prefix 'em-' is a variant of 'en-', which comes from Latin and Greek, used to form verbs meaning 'to put into or on' (like 'entomb' or 'ensnare').
Explore more words
empowerment, embolden, give permission, agency, bestow, assert
Also appears in
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