authoritative
Americanadjective
-
having due authority; having the sanction or weight of authority.
an authoritative opinion.
- Synonyms:
- official
-
substantiated or supported by documentary evidence and accepted by most authorities in a field.
an authoritative edition of Shakespeare; an authoritative treatment of a subject.
-
having an air of authority; accustomed to exercising authority; positive; peremptory; dictatorial.
said with an authoritative air.
- Synonyms:
- authoritarian, dogmatic
adjective
-
recognized or accepted as being true or reliable
an authoritative article on drugs
-
exercising or asserting authority; commanding
an authoritative manner
-
possessing or supported by authority; official
an authoritative communiqué
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of authoritative
First recorded in 1595–1605; authorit(y) + -ative
Explanation
Speak with an authoritative tone, or no one will listen to you. Why would they, if you sound like you don't even believe in yourself? Authoritative means sure or definitive. When writing a paper, it can be useful to quote from an authoritative source, such as the encyclopedia, but you must also do enough research that you are fluent in your subject and can speak with the authoritative voice only true immersion can produce.
Vocabulary lists containing authoritative
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 2
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The Last Cuentista
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He’s somehow both understated — he’s not showboating, even when he would be entitled to — and authoritative.
From Salon ● Aug. 25, 2026
"This combination can read as highly casual and youthful, which may unintentionally detract from giving you a credible and authoritative presence."
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
“The President and the Attorney General, subject to the president’s supervision and control, shall provide authoritative interpretations of law for the executive branch.”
From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026
First filmed before the pandemic and launched in its throes, a survivor of the era of streaming wars, corporate consolidation and Hollywood strikes, HBO’s addictively dissolute workplace drama remains as ambitious and authoritative as ever.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026
His keys were jangling, and his janitor boots were making a very authoritative sound as they hit the polished floor of the Golden Glen.
From "Raymie Nightingale" by Kate DiCamillo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
