authority

noun

au·​thor·​i·​ty ə-ˈthȯr-ə-tē 

ȯ-,

-ˈthär-

plural authorities

1

a

: power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior

the president's authority

b

: freedom granted by one in authority : right

Who gave you the authority to do as you wish?

2

a

: persons in command

specifically : government

the local authorities of each state

b

: a governmental agency or corporation to administer a revenue-producing public enterprise

the transit authority

the city's housing authority

3

a

: grounds, warrant

had excellent authority for believing the claim

b

: convincing force

lent authority to the performance

4

a(1)

: a citation (as from a book or file) used in defense or support

(2)

: the source from which the citation is drawn

He quoted extensively from the Bible, his sole authority.

b(1)

: a conclusive statement or set of statements (such as an official decision of a court)

(2)

: a decision taken as a precedent

(3)

: testimony

c

: an individual cited or appealed to as an expert

The prosecutor called the psychiatrist as an authority.

Synonyms

• ace
• adept
• artist
• cognoscente
• connoisseur
• crackerjack
• crackajack
• dab [chiefly British]
• dab hand [chiefly British]
• expert
• fiend
• geek
• guru
• hand
• hotshot
• maestro
• master
• maven
• mavin
• meister
• past master
• proficient
• scholar
• shark
• sharp
• virtuoso
• whiz
• wizard

Choose the Right Synonym for authority

influence, authority, prestige, weight, credit mean power exerted over the minds or behavior of others.

influence may apply to a force exercised and received consciously or unconsciously.

used her influence to get the bill passed

authority implies the power of winning devotion or allegiance or of compelling acceptance and belief.

his opinions lacked authority

prestige implies the ascendancy given by conspicuous excellence or reputation for superiority.

the prestige of the newspaper

weight implies measurable or decisive influence in determining acts or choices.

their wishes obviously carried much weight

credit suggests influence that arises from the confidence of others.

his credit with the press

power, authority, jurisdiction, control, command, sway, dominion mean the right to govern or rule or determine.

power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

Examples of authority in a Sentence

The boss is not popular but his authority is unquestioned.

She has an air of authority.

Her southern accent lent authority to her performance.

We reported the incident to hospital authorities.

Local authorities are investigating the accident.

Recent Examples on the Web

Handling Mistakes Traditional leaders see mistakes as a threat to authority. —William Arruda, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025

Chelan County Sheriff's Office Last week, authorities asked people who live or own cabins in remote areas of several Washington state counties to lock their doors, including locking up sheds, while the search continued. —Sarah Lynch Baldwin june 9, CBS News, 9 June 2025

Six people were killed after a small plane crashed into the ocean off San Diego on Sunday, authorities said. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025

In scientific tracts, medical journal articles, advice guidebooks, conduct manuals, and the pages of popular newspapers and magazines, nineteenth-century scientific and cultural authorities attempted to identify, measure, and classify parts of the body that were impossible to fake. —Literary Hub, 9 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English autorite, auctorite, borrowed from Anglo-French autorité, auctorité, borrowed from Latin auctōritāt-, auctōritās "right of ownership, sanction, approval, the power to authorize or sanction, convincing force of an utterance or appearance," from auctōr-, auctor "originator, creator, authority" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at author entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Phrases Containing authority

• anti-authority
• authority figure
• figure of authority
• have it on good/excellent authority
• in a position of authority
• in authority
• local authority
• moral authority
• on one's own authority
• under the authority of
• with authority

Rhymes for authority

• majority
• minority
• priority
• seniority
• sonority
• sorority
• exteriority
• inferiority
• superiority

Kids Definition

authority

noun

au·​thor·​i·​ty ə-ˈthär-ət-ē 

ȯ-,

-ˈthȯr-

plural authorities

1

a

: a fact or statement that is used to support a position or decision

b

: a person looked to as an expert

2

: the right to give commands : the power to influence the behavior of others

the authority to hire workers

3

: persons having powers of government

local authorities

4

: the quality of being convincing

spoke with authority

Legal Definition

authority

noun

au·​thor·​i·​ty

plural authorities

1

: an official decision of a court used especially as a precedent

2

a

: a power to act especially over others that derives from status, position, or office

the authority of the president

also : jurisdiction

b

: the power to act that is officially or formally granted (as by statute, corporate bylaw, or court order)

within the scope of the treasurer's authority

police officers executing a warrant…are not required to “knock and announce” their authority and purposes before entering

—National Law Journal

c

: power and capacity to act granted by someone in a position of control

specifically : the power to act granted by a principal to his or her agent

— actual authority

: the authority that a principal in reality has granted to an agent

— actual express authority

: the actual authority of an agent specifically stated or written by the principal

— actual implied authority

: the actual authority of an agent that the principal has not specified but has purposely or through negligence allowed the agent to believe has been granted

— apparent authority

: the authority that a principal purposely or through negligence allows a third party to believe that the principal's agent has although such authority has not in reality been granted

called also authority by estoppel, ostensible authority

Note: A principal is bound by the acts of an agent acting with apparent authority.

— express authority

: authority that is explicitly granted to an agent by a principal

called also expressed authority, stipulated authority

— implied authority

: the authority to perform acts that are customary, necessary, and understood by an agent as authorized in performing acts for which the principal has given express authority

— ostensible authority

: apparent authority in this entry

— stipulated authority

: express authority in this entry

3

: a person in a position of power and especially a public office

—usually used in pl.

the local authorities

4

a

: a government agency or corporation that administers a revenue-producing public enterprise

the transit authority

b

: a government agency or public office responsible for an area of regulation

should apply for a permit to the permitting authority