authority */*/*/

authority */*/*/
UK [ɔːˈθɒrətɪ] / US [ɔˈθɔrətɪ] noun
Word forms "authority":
singular authority plural authorities
1)
a) [countable] someone who is considered an expert in a particular subject
authority on:

Charles was an authority on antique musical instruments.

b) something such as a book that people respect because it contains a lot of knowledge about a particular subject
authority on:

The book is widely acknowledged to be the authority on regional English expressions.

2) the authorities
[plural] the police or people in other official organizations with legal power to make people obey laws or rules

The girl told the authorities that she had been kidnapped from her home.

The French authorities have refused to issue him a visa.

3) [countable] an organization or institution that controls something, often a public service

She took her complaint to the local health authority.

The rules are set by the passenger transport authority.

See:
4) [uncountable] the power to make decisions or tell people what to do

In practice it is difficult for the President to exercise his authority.

have the authority to do something:

They don't have the authority to close the canal.

authority over:

Parents have legal authority over their children.

a) the power to influence other people because they respect your opinions or knowledge
with authority:

It is a subject on which she can write with authority.

b) the power to make other people obey you because of a quality in the way you speak or behave

There was a tone of authority in her voice.

5) [uncountable] formal official permission to do something

He believed he had authority to ride the bike.

I have it on good authority (that) — used for saying that your information comes from someone you trust


English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • authority — au·thor·i·ty n pl ties 1: an official decision of a court used esp. as a precedent 2 a: a power to act esp. over others that derives from status, position, or office the authority of the president; also: jurisdiction b: the power to act …   Law dictionary

  • Authority — Au*thor i*ty, n.; pl. {Authorities}. [OE. autorite, auctorite, F. autorit[ e], fr. L. auctoritas, fr. auctor. See {Author}, n.] 1. Legal or rightful power; a right to command or to act; power exercised buy a person in virtue of his office or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • authority — [ə thôr′ə tē, əthär′ə tē] n. pl. authorities [ME autorite < OFr autorité, auctorité < L auctoritas < auctor, AUTHOR] 1. a) the power or right to give commands, enforce obedience, take action, or make final decisions; jurisdiction b) the… …   English World dictionary

  • authority — (n.) early 13c., autorite book or quotation that settles an argument, from O.Fr. auctorité authority, prestige, right, permission, dignity, gravity; the Scriptures (12c.; Mod.Fr. autorité), from L. auctoritatem (nom. auctoritas) invention, advice …   Etymology dictionary

  • authority — [n1] power, control ascendancy, authorization, beef*, charge, clout*, command, credit, domination, dominion, edge, esteem, force, goods*, government, guts*, influence, juice*, jump, jurisdiction, leg up*, license, mastery, might, might and main* …   New thesaurus

  • authority — /auˈtɔriti, ingl. ɔːˈθHrɪtɪ/ [lett. «autorità»] s. f. inv. autorità, organo di vigilanza …   Sinonimi e Contrari. Terza edizione

  • authority — 1 *power, jurisdiction, command, control, dominion, sway Analogous words: ascendancy, *supremacy: government, ruling or rule (see corresponding verbs at GOVERN) 2 *influence, weight, credit, prestige Analogous words: exemplar, ideal, standard, p …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • authority — ► NOUN (pl. authorities) 1) the power or right to give orders and enforce obedience. 2) a person or organization having official power. 3) recognized knowledge or expertise. 4) an authoritative person or book. ORIGIN Old French autorite, from… …   English terms dictionary

  • Authority — In politics, authority (Latin auctoritas , used in Roman law as opposed to potestas and imperium ) is often used interchangeably with the term power . However, their meanings differ: while power refers to the ability to achieve certain ends,… …   Wikipedia

  • authority — A government or public agency created to perform a single function or a restricted group of related activities. Usually, such units are financed from service charges, fees, and tolls, but in some instances they also have taxing powers. An… …   Financial and business terms

  • authority — n. control power 1) to assume; delegate; demonstrate, show; establish; exercise, wield; invoke authority 2) to defy; deny, reject; undermine authority 3) absolute, complete, full, supreme, unquestioned; parental authority 4) authority for; over… …   Combinatory dictionary

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