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authority

noun
au·​thor·​i·​ty | \ ə-ˈthär-ə-tē How to pronounce authority (audio) , ȯ-, -ˈthȯr-\
plural authorities

Definition of authority

1a : 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?
2a : 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
3a : grounds, warrant had excellent authority for believing the claim
b : convincing force lent authority to the performance
4a(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 & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about authority

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Synonyms & Antonyms for authority

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

amateur, inexpert, nonexpert

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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 In Canada, Mulroney is fashion royalty: brand consultant, bridal authority, fashion contributor (on Citytv’s CityLine), and Instagram star. — Julie Kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, "Jessica Mulroney Is the Real Fashion Royalty," 7 Mar. 2019 Claire's has refused to comply with the FDA's request, and the agency does not have authority to mandate a recall. — Blake Bakkila, Good Housekeeping, "UPDATE: FDA Claims Three Claire's Products Have Tested Positive for Asbestos," 6 Mar. 2019 Some of the cases resolved in 2018 include Brazilian oil company Petróleo Brasileiro SA’s $853.2 million settlement with U.S. and Brazil authorities, as well as Société Générale SA’s $1.1 billion settlement related to Libyan bribery allegations. — Mengqi Sun, WSJ, "Antibribery Efforts Outside the U.S. Picked Up in 2018," 5 Mar. 2019 With all that automotive authority, these are the vehicles that impressed us most in 2018. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "The 2018 Cars Technica cars and SUVs of the year," 30 Dec. 2018 The authorities, unsurprisingly, did not rally behind al-Sharif the way women did; she was detained twice and imprisoned for nine days. — Michele Aboud, Glamour, "Saudi Arabia Was the Last Place in the World to Allow Women to Drive. Manal al-Sharif Helped Change That.," 5 Nov. 2018 Increasingly, however, Tanzanian authorities, the U.N. Development Programme, and the World Bank have turned to Ruaha, improving infrastructure, adding more rangers, even looking to reintroduce black rhino. — Andrew Sessa, Condé Nast Traveler, "Ruaha: The African National Park You'll Have Almost All to Yourself," 11 Oct. 2018 To find this kind of center, try Googling your city or county’s mental health authority or department of behavioral health, Nguyen says. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "7 Ways to Find an Actually Affordable Therapist," 15 Feb. 2019 As Ars has previously reported, in order to unmask Playpen's users, federal authorities seized and operated the site for 13 days before closing it down. — Cyrus Farivar, Ars Technica, "ACLU to feds: Your “hacking presents a unique threat to individual privacy”," 21 Dec. 2018

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.

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First Known Use of authority

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

History and Etymology for authority

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

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Last Updated

13 Mar 2019

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Time Traveler for authority

The first known use of authority was in the 13th century

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More Definitions for authority

authority

noun
How to pronounce authority (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of authority

: 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

See the full definition for authority in the English Language Learners Dictionary

authority

noun
au·​thor·​i·​ty | \ ə-ˈthȯr-ə-tē How to pronounce authority (audio) \
plural authorities

Kids Definition of authority

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?

authority

noun
au·​thor·​i·​ty
plural authorities

Legal Definition of authority

1 : an official decision of a court used especially as a precedent
2a : 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
4a : 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

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More from Merriam-Webster on authority

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with authority

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for authority

Spanish Central: Translation of authority

Nglish: Translation of authority for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of authority for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about authority

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