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authority

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

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR authority 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; conviction: 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.

Origin of authority

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

Related formsan·ti·au·thor·i·ty, adjective

Synonyms for authority

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR authority ON THESAURUS.COM

1. rule, power, sway. 3. sovereign, arbiter.

Synonym study

1. Authority, control, influence denote a power or right to direct the actions or thoughts of others. Authority is a power or right, usually because of rank or office, to issue commands and to punish for violations: to have authority over subordinates. Control is either power or influence applied to the complete and successful direction or manipulation of persons or things: to be in control of a project. Influence is a personal and unofficial power derived from deference of others to one's character, ability, or station; it may be exerted unconsciously or may operate through persuasion: to have influence over one's friends.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for authority

jurisdiction, force, rule, government, judge, law, expert, pizzazz, right, weight, influence, clout, supremacy, juice, say-so, prerogative, esteem, zap, might, strength

Examples from the Web for authority

Contemporary Examples of authority

You get these high-profile people that go into prison, and the staff abuse their authority.
How a ‘Real Housewife’ Survives Prison: ‘I Don’t See [Teresa Giudice] Having a Cakewalk Here’
Michael Howard
January 6, 2015
But the authority of his name far exceeds that of our own, famous or obscure though we be.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters
James Poulos
January 1, 2015
Only two senators opposed the resolution, which the administration later claimed was the authority for a full-scale war.
The World’s Toughest Political Quiz
Jeff Greenfield
December 31, 2014
Too moderate and the more radical groups call you a snitch, jeopardizing your standing and authority at demonstrations.
De Blasio and the New York City Protesters Have No Blood on Their Hands
Jacob Siegel
December 22, 2014
There is the will of the people; the resolve of the political class; the courage of the media; and the authority of the courts.
The U.S. Will Torture Again—and We’re All to Blame
Michael Tomasky
December 12, 2014

Historical Examples of authority

No man ventured to interfere with this lawful exercise of his authority.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
From that moment on, no Jew dared to question the authority of Moses.
Ancient Man
Hendrik Willem van Loon
So this part of my restraint was doubtless a stretch of the authority given him.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
It was unspeakably humiliating to be told that she had overstepped her authority.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus
Jessie Graham Flower
But it was always my notion, that children should not dispute their parents' authority.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson

British Dictionary definitions for authority

authority

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

Word Origin and History for authority

n.

early 13c., autorite "book or quotation that settles an argument," from Old French auctorité "authority, prestige, right, permission, dignity, gravity; the Scriptures" (12c.; Modern French autorité), from Latin auctoritatem (nominative auctoritas) "invention, advice, opinion, influence, command," from auctor "master, leader, author" (see author (n.)).

Usually spelled with a -c- in English till 16c., when it was dropped in imitation of the French. Meaning "power to enforce obedience" is from late 14c.; meaning "people in authority" is from 1610s. Authorities "those in charge, those with police powers" is recorded from mid-19c.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper