authority
Americannoun
plural
authorities-
the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control, command, or determine.
- Synonyms:
- persuasion, sway, power, rule
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a power or right delegated or given; authorization.
Who has the authority to grant permission?
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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.
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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.
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an accepted source of information, advice, etc..
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the leading authority on vaccines and immunizations.
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a quotation or citation from such a source.
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an expert on a subject.
He is an authority on baseball.
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persuasive force; cogency.
She spoke with authority.
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a statute, court rule, or judicial decision that establishes a rule or principle of law; a ruling.
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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.
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mastery in execution or performance, as of a work of art or literature or a piece of music.
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a warrant for action; justification.
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testimony; witness.
noun
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the power or right to control, judge, or prohibit the actions of others
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(often plural) a person or group of people having this power, such as a government, police force, etc
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a position that commands such a power or right (often in the phrase in authority )
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such a power or right delegated, esp from one person to another; authorization
she has his authority
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the ability to influence or control others
a man of authority
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an expert or an authoritative written work in a particular field
he is an authority on Ming china
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evidence or testimony
we have it on his authority that she is dead
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confidence resulting from great expertise
the violinist lacked authority in his cadenza
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(capital when part of a name) a public board or corporation exercising governmental authority in administering some enterprise
Independent Broadcasting Authority
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law
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a judicial decision, statute, or rule of law that establishes a principle; precedent
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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
- antiauthority adjective
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” ( author ) + -itās -ity
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.
In any existential war, they said they would expand the battlefield by targeting the world’s oil supply while also kicking command authority down to dispersed units to survive decapitation—Iran’s so-called mosaic defense.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
Iraq's civil aviation authority said it was reopening the country's airspace on Wednesday following the announcement of the US-Iran ceasefire.
From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026
“This is an incredibly dangerous authority to have as unrestricted as it is,” said Matthew Guariglia, a senior policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026
Self-funding residents have to pay most of their own care due to the amount of savings they have, rather than it being paid for by their local authority.
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
When Sverrisson had brought this up, as delicately as he could, Bobby had replied: “A will is not necessary. Don’t worry about that. Miyoko has full authority to do anything for me, if necessary.”
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
