power of attorney

noun phrase

: a legal instrument authorizing one to act as the attorney or agent of the grantor

Examples of power of attorney in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Both the cardholder and the administrator have to consent to the arrangement, but the administrator doesn’t need to hold a financial power of attorney, since the card is funded with discrete deposits—not all of a holder’s assets. —Lindsey Choo, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025

The site includes forms people can fill out to grant someone power of attorney, standby guardianship, and the ability to make school and health decisions for their child. —Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 28 Jan. 2025

Activists are holding meetings to advise people about their legal rights and families have been drafting powers of attorney. —Ernesto Londoño, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025

Haart has also been granted power of attorney over the half belonging to her ex. —Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1716, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for power of attorney

• burnie
• gurney
• journey
• tourney
• mcburney

Legal Definition

power of attorney

: an instrument containing an authorization for one to act as the agent of the principal that terminates especially upon revocation by the principal or death of the principal or agent

called also letter of attorney

— durable power of attorney

: a power of attorney that becomes effective immediately and is not affected by the principal's subsequent incapacity or that becomes effective only upon the principal's incapacity

— general power of attorney

: a power of attorney authorizing the agent to carry on business or an enterprise for the principal compare special power of attorney in this entry

— health care power of attorney

: a power of attorney authorizing an agent to make health care decisions in the event of incapacity

called also medical power of attorney

— irrevocable power of attorney

: a power of attorney that cannot be revoked by the principal

— special power of attorney

: a power of attorney authorizing the agent to carry out a particular business transaction for the principal

— springing power of attorney

: a power of attorney that comes into effect only upon the occurrence of a specified condition (as the incapacity of the principal)