authoritative

adjective

au·​thor·​i·​ta·​tive ə-ˈthȯr-ə-ˌtā-tiv 

ȯ-,

-ˈthär-

1

: having, marked by, or proceeding from authority

authoritative church doctrines

an authoritative decision

an authoritative manner

2

: possessing recognized or evident authority : clearly accurate or knowledgeable

an authoritative critique

an authoritative source of information

authoritatively adverb

authoritativeness noun

Synonyms

• classic
• classical
• definitive
• magisterial

Examples of authoritative in a Sentence

The book is an authoritative guide to the city's restaurants.

His manner is polite but authoritative.

She addressed the group with an authoritative voice.

Recent Examples on the Web

Telegram, which Durov said had 950 million users, is used both as an everyday messaging tool and a way work around authoritative governments – but White supremacist groups and Isis also favor it. —Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 5 Sep. 2024

From resource management to building an authoritative brand, predictive AI touches every aspect of the healthcare business environment. —Andrei Kasyanau, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024

Last year, 50 Best—an organization best known for its authoritative annual lists of the top bars and restaurants around the globe—unveiled its first-ever list of the world’s best hotels, with the paradisical Lake Como villa Passalacqua topping the list. —Liam Hess, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2024

That’s the top-line takeaway from the latest edition of the 2023 TEA/AECOM Theme Index, an authoritative yearly survey of trends in the theme park industry. —Tom Tapp, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

authority + -ative

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

authoritative

adjective

au·​thor·​i·​ta·​tive ə-ˈthär-ə-ˌtāt-iv 

ȯ-,

-ˈthȯr-

: having or coming from authority

authoritatively adverb

authoritativeness noun