authority

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noun au·thor·i·ty \ ə-ˈthär-ə-tē , ȯ- , -ˈthȯr- \

Definition of authority

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.

See authority defined for English-language learners

See authority defined for kids

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 of authority from the Web

Gov. Matt Bevin, who has exclusive authority to call special legislative sessions, has not set the date.

— tom loftus, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky Pension Crisis: When will the special session be held to consider changes in plans?," 29 Aug. 2017
According to Pennsylvania authorities, he was also wanted for aggravated assault.

— jonece starr dunigan, AL.com, "Man shot in the arm at Fairfield gas station," 29 Aug. 2017
According to authorities, our crime rate is down, which is good.

— carmen gonzalez caldwell, miamiherald, "Before getting ripped off by Hurricane Harvey relief scams, check with the Red Cross," 29 Aug. 2017
Authorities were not releasing the victims' identities Monday night.

— alicia fabbre, Daily Southtown, "Authorities: Joliet police investigating deaths of mother, 2 daughters as 'apparent murder-suicide'," 29 Aug. 2017
Colonial authorities agreed with Danckaerts that the solution to the problem of native drunkenness was a prohibition against selling or trading spirits.

— Longreads, "America’s First Addiction Epidemic," 29 Aug. 2017
The protestors saw the men of authority as complicit in their oppression.

— carrie hagen, Smithsonian, "The First Presidential Pardon Pitted Alexander Hamilton Against George Washington," 29 Aug. 2017
As of midday Saturday, Houston authorities had received more than 2,000 emergency calls and conducted 250 vehicle rescues thanks to the floodwaters. •

— chas danner and benjamin hart, Daily Intelligencer, "Catastrophic Flooding Swamps Houston as Harvey Stalls Over Texas," 27 Aug. 2017
Border Patrol agents found a cross-border tunnel in Otay Mesa early Saturday after dozens of people emerged from it, federal authorities said.

— pauline repard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "30 detained at cross-border tunnel in Otay Mesa," 26 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'authority.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of authority

Middle English auctorite, from Anglo-French auctorité, from Latin auctoritat-, auctoritas opinion, decision, power, from auctor — see ¹author

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

authority Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

amateur, inexpert, nonexpert

Related Words

pro, professional; consultant, hired gun, specialist; addict, aficionado (also afficionado), buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan; craftsman, journeyman; all-rounder [British], jack-of-all-trades, Renaissance man; mistress

Near Antonyms

apprentice, beginner, neophyte, novice; dabbler, dilettante; layman, nonprofessional

Synonym Discussion of 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

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

AUTHORITY Defined for English Language Learners

authority

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noun

Definition of authority for English Language Learners

: the power to give orders or make decisions : the power or right to direct or control someone or something
: the confident quality of someone who knows a lot about something or who is respected or obeyed by other people
: a quality that makes something seem true or real

AUTHORITY Defined for Kids

authority

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noun au·thor·i·ty \ ə-ˈthȯr-ə-tē \

Definition of authority for Students

plural authorities

1 :power to exercise control

2 :a person looked to as an expert

She's a leading authority on fitness.

3 :people having powers to make decisions and enforce rules and laws

State authorities are investigating the disputed election.

4 :a fact or statement used to support a position

What is your authority for this argument?

Law Dictionary

authority

noun au·thor·i·ty

legal Definition of authority

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.