Empowerment
/ɪmˈpaʊərmənt/
Definitions
The process of giving someone the authority or power to do something or to become more confident and in control of their life.
/ɪmˈpaʊərmənt/
The process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life and claiming one's rights.
The program aims to foster the empowerment of women in the workplace.
💡 Simply: Empowerment is like giving someone a superpower to take charge and make their own decisions. It's about helping people feel confident and capable, so they can change things for the better. Like, if you help a friend learn to stand up for themselves, that's empowerment!
👶 For kids: Making someone feel strong and like they can do anything!
More Examples
Education is a key factor in the empowerment of individuals.
She found empowerment in starting her own business.
How It's Used
"Organizations are working towards the empowerment of marginalized communities."
"Employee empowerment leads to increased job satisfaction and productivity."
"Educational programs focused on the empowerment of young girls."
Idioms & expressions
Women's empowerment
The process of increasing women's autonomy and influence in society.
"The organization's focus is on women's empowerment through education and economic opportunities."
Self-empowerment
The process of gaining power and control over one's own life and decisions.
"Self-empowerment is essential for overcoming challenges and achieving personal goals."
From the verb 'empower,' which originated in the late 19th century, likely as a combination of 'em-' (from 'en-,' meaning 'in,' 'into') and 'power.' The suffix '-ment' denotes an action or state.
The term 'empowerment' gained significant traction in the latter half of the 20th century, particularly in social and political contexts.
Memory tip
Imagine giving someone a 'power-up' in a video game; empowerment is like that, but for real life.
Word Origin
"To give power to; to enable"