authority

American  

[uh-thawr-i-tee, uh-thor-] / əˈθɔr ɪ ti, əˈθɒr- /

noun

• authorities
  plural

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

   Synonyms:

   persuasion, sway, power, rule

2. a power or right delegated or given; authorization.

   Who has the authority to grant permission?

3. 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.

   Synonyms:

   arbiter, sovereign

4. 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.

5. an accepted source of information, advice, etc..

   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the leading authority on vaccines and immunizations.

6. a quotation or citation from such a source.

7. an expert on a subject.

   He is an authority on baseball.

8. persuasive force; cogency.

   She spoke with authority.

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

10. 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.

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

12. a warrant for action; justification.

13. testimony; witness.

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authority British  

/ ɔːˈθɒrɪtɪ /

noun

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

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

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

4. such a power or right delegated, esp from one person to another; authorization

   she has his authority

5. the ability to influence or control others

   a man of authority

6. an expert or an authoritative written work in a particular field

   he is an authority on Ming china

7. evidence or testimony

   we have it on his authority that she is dead

8. confidence resulting from great expertise

   the violinist lacked authority in his cadenza

9. (capital when part of a name) a public board or corporation exercising governmental authority in administering some enterprise

   Independent Broadcasting Authority

10. law

    1. a judicial decision, statute, or rule of law that establishes a principle; precedent

    2. legal permission granted to a person to perform a specified act

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Usage

What are other ways to say authority? The noun authority refers to the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues. When should you use this noun over control or influence? Find out on Thesaurus.com. 

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antiauthority
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• authorities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of authority

First recorded in 1200–50; earlier auct(h)oritie, from Latin auctōritās “power, influence, prestige,” equivalent to auctor “authority, originator, supporter” ( see author) + -itās -ity

Explanation

If you have the authority to do something, you have the right or power to do it. You are the big cheese. Or, if you know more about a topic than most, you are an authority on that topic. Giving someone authority grants them the power to make important decisions or have accepted opinions. When you leave your kids with a babysitter, you give her the authority to put them to bed at 7 p.m., no matter how much they insist you let them stay up until midnight. You'll feel more confident leaving the babysitter in charge of bedtime decisions if she's written two books on the subject and is an authority, or renowned expert, on children's sleep habits. Being an authority on children's sleep habits helps your babysitter enforce that 7 p.m. bedtime, but it may not convince the kids.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

authority authorities

In England, term dates are determined by school employers - for maintained state schools, that's their local authority.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

Many provinces, which have authority over the sales of alcohol, removed US wine and spirits from their shelves.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued in December and argued that the president had overstepped his authority.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

The Southern Utes of Colorado are the first to gain authority established under George W. Bush.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

After 1808, Congress possessed the authority to do what it wished; then all constitutional restraints would lapse.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

The inquiry into whether he passed confidential government information to the late Jeffrey Epstein could reportedly be hindered because US authorities are "unlikely to hand over key Epstein files".

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

No criminal charges have been filed and federal authorities have declined to provide specifics on the investigation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

“The authorities seem to be fully in control of the official political sphere. It looks like nothing threatens them,” Gallyamov said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

But local authorities estimate that about 10,000 people arrived at the height of the rush.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

His situation wasn’t improved when the authorities at the seminary decided to put him on a three-quarter salary until he proved his worth.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Related Words

• force
• government
• jurisdiction
• rule