authoritative

[uh-thawr-i-tey-tiv, uh-thor-]

See more synonyms for authoritative on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having due authority; having the sanction or weight of authority: an authoritative opinion.
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.

Origin of authoritative

First recorded in 1595–1605; authorit(y) + -ative

Related formsau·thor·i·ta·tive·ly, adverbau·thor·i·ta·tive·ness, nounnon·au·thor·i·ta·tive, adjectivenon·au·thor·i·ta·tive·ly, adverbnon·au·thor·i·ta·tive·ness, nounun·au·thor·i·ta·tive, adjectiveun·au·thor·i·ta·tive·ly, adverbun·au·thor·i·ta·tive·ness, noun

Synonyms for authoritative

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. official. 3. dogmatic, authoritarian.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for authoritatively

authoritatively

Examples from the Web for authoritatively

Contemporary Examples of authoritatively

Some authoritatively explained that his death is being used as a distraction from the current political transition.
Hosni Mubarak Rumors Swirl Before Election Results Announced
Vivian Salama
June 20, 2012
“He wanted to write about it authoritatively,” Wilentz said.
A Brief History of the Presidential Memoir
Joshua Robinson
November 8, 2010

Historical Examples of authoritatively

"Both of you may stop now," said Professor Maxon authoritatively.
The Monster Men
Edgar Rice Burroughs
“Go around to Helen, and—take that gun,” she said authoritatively.
The Law-Breakers
Ridgwell Cullum
She was moving towards the door when Artois stopped her authoritatively.
A Spirit in Prison
Robert Hichens
"Stay—I cannot permit this," interposed the Chief Justice, authoritatively.
Roland Cashel
Charles James Lever
"The cause of failure was very different," said O'Hallo-ran, authoritatively.
The Knight Of Gwynne, Vol. II (of II)
Charles James Lever

British Dictionary definitions for authoritatively

authoritative

adjective

recognized or accepted as being true or reliablean authoritative article on drugs
exercising or asserting authority; commandingan authoritative manner
possessing or supported by authority; officialan authoritative communiqué

Derived Formsauthoritatively, adverbauthoritativeness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for authoritatively

authoritative

adj.

c.1600, "dictatorial" (a sense now restricted to authoritarian), from Medieval Latin authoritativus (see authority). Meaning "possessing authority" is recorded from 1650s; that of "proceeding from proper authority" is from 1809. Related: Authoritatively; authoritativeness.