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.
But such predictions may have little bearing on who was involved in a new crime in the area, even if an algorithm generates information that sounds authoritative.
From Salon • May 12, 2026
Letters, checks, emails and phone calls from supposedly authoritative organizations — banks, police, universities, Uncle Sam — can be intimidating and, if they’re offering you something for nothing, impressive.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026
Combining Barron’s authoritative financial analysis with exclusive geopolitical intelligence powered by Oxford Analytica, each weekly edition connects how global risk, policy shifts and international developments impact your portfolio.
From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026
Lead researcher Dr Nicholas Tiller explains: "They are designed to give very confident, very authoritative responses, and that conveys a sense of credibility, so the user assumes that it must know what it's talking about."
From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026
They stood before each other in silence, while the saints rejoiced; and John struggled to speak the authoritative, the living word that would conquer the great division between his father and himself.
From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin
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.
