authority

[ uh-thawr-i-tee, uh-thor- ]

/ əˈθɔr ɪ ti, əˈθɒr- /

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See synonyms for: authority / authorities on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural au·thor·i·ties.

the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control, command, or determine.

a power or right delegated or given; authorization: Who has the authority to grant permission?

a person or body of persons in whom authority is vested, as a governmental agency: The housing authority provides rental assistance payments to low-income residents.The bridges and piers are built and maintained by the Port Authority.

Usually authorities . persons having the legal power to make and enforce the law; government: They finally persuaded the authorities that they were not involved in espionage.

an accepted source of information, advice, etc.: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the leading authority on vaccines and immunizations.

a quotation or citation from such a source.

an expert on a subject: He is an authority on baseball.

persuasive force; cogency: She spoke with authority.

a statute, court rule, or judicial decision that establishes a rule or principle of law; a ruling.

right to respect or acceptance of one's word, command, thought, etc.; commanding influence: the authority of a parent; the authority of a great writer.

mastery in execution or performance, as of a work of art or literature or a piece of music.

a warrant for action; justification.

testimony; witness.

OTHER WORDS FOR authority

1 rule, power, sway.

3 sovereign, arbiter.

8 persuasion, persuasiveness; convincingness.

See synonyms for authority on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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Origin of authority

1200–50; earlier auct(h)oritie<Latin auctōritās; replacing Middle English autorite<Old French < L. See author, -ity

OTHER WORDS FROM authority

an·ti·au·thor·i·ty, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use authority in a sentence

Late Wednesday night, French authorities reported that Mourad had surrendered to police, while the two brothers remained at large.
Police Hunt for Paris Massacre Suspects|Tracy McNicoll, Christopher Dickey|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
As for the federal authorities, they have made themselves available but the clergy have not requested special protection.
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Did he go to the authorities to file a report against the Guerreros Unidos drug cartel?
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Yet only 24 percent of the 3,892 femicides the group identified in 2012 and 2013 were looked at by authorities.
Why Mexicans Are Enraged by Obama’s Big Tuesday Meeting|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST

I had a feeling that Turkish authorities were closing their eyes.
Ghost Ships of the Mediterranean|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This mania for correction shows itself too in relation to the authorities themselves.
Children's Ways|James Sully
The seed of discontent was again germinating under the duplicity of the Spanish lay and clerical authorities.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
The exertions of the city authorities, who had notice of the meditated riot, were unable to prevent or quell it.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
After his death crowds flocked to his grave to touch his holy monument, till the authorities caused the church yard to be shut.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
The remaining figures, being taken from census returns and other reliable authorities, are more satisfactory.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell

British Dictionary definitions for authority

authority

/ (ɔːˈθɒrɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

the power or right to control, judge, or prohibit the actions of others

(often plural) a person or group of people having this power, such as a government, police force, etc

a position that commands such a power or right (often in the phrase in authority)

such a power or right delegated, esp from one person to another; authorizationshe has his authority

the ability to influence or control othersa man of authority

an expert or an authoritative written work in a particular fieldhe is an authority on Ming china

evidence or testimonywe have it on his authority that she is dead

confidence resulting from great expertisethe violinist lacked authority in his cadenza

(capital when part of a name) a public board or corporation exercising governmental authority in administering some enterpriseIndependent Broadcasting Authority

law

a judicial decision, statute, or rule of law that establishes a principle; precedent
legal permission granted to a person to perform a specified act

Word Origin for authority

C14: from French autorité, from Latin auctōritas, from auctor author

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

authority

OTHER WORDS FOR authority

Origin of authority

OTHER WORDS FROM authority

Words related to authority

How to use authority in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for authority

Word Origin for authority