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.
"Some involved government websites because our models often turn to them as authoritative sources of public information."
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
He also did the Rams and USC football with a calm, articulate and authoritative delivery that was so powerful, it had its own echo.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
Two new working papers circulated by the authoritative National Bureau of Economic Research show the double squeeze the U.S. dollar and the Treasury market are facing both overseas and at home.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
As AI models grow more sophisticated, the need for additional authoritative data on which to train them has become more urgent—even as the supply of undigested, commercially available writing dwindles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
I want to hear strong, authoritative voices, guys.
From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee
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.
