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
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
Making use of both anchors in such fashion would put an authoritative person in the field and the studio, this person suggested, while giving the newscast the ability to deliver breaking news at the top of the broadcast.
—
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
The project of canons, however flawed, is one of the few ways to push against that flattening logic, to argue that history should remember more than what, say, SiriusXM chooses to bankroll and gets an authoritative New York Times write-up.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2025
Establish a central, authoritative source of truth about yourself.
—Jason Barnard, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
The decision means that in the authoritative opinion of the international legal community, all countries are under an obligation to contribute to the efforts to reduce global greenhouse emissions.
—Lauren Gifford, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritative
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Brian Steinberg, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
The project of canons, however flawed, is one of the few ways to push against that flattening logic, to argue that history should remember more than what, say, SiriusXM chooses to bankroll and gets an authoritative New York Times write-up.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2025
Establish a central, authoritative source of truth about yourself.
—Jason Barnard, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
The decision means that in the authoritative opinion of the international legal community, all countries are under an obligation to contribute to the efforts to reduce global greenhouse emissions.
—Lauren Gifford, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authoritative
Cite this Entry
“Authoritative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authoritative. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
authoritative
adjective
au·thor·i·ta·tive
ə-ˈthär-ə-ˌtāt-iv
ȯ-,
-ˈthȯr-
: having or coming from authority
authoritatively
adverb
authoritativeness
noun
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