authority

Academic Word List, sublist 1.

About 77.20 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun Power or right to make or enforce rules, give orders, or impose obligation; or a position having such power or right.

   I have the authority to penalise the staff in my department, but not the authority to sack them.

2. noun Persons, regarded collectively, who occupy official positions of power; police or law enforcement.

   Authorities say the suspect fled on foot.

3. noun A reliable, definitive source of information on a subject.

   the world's foremost authority on orangutans

4. noun Status as a trustworthy source of information, reputation for mastery or expertise; or claim to such status or reputation.

   Due to being inadequate for the deductive method of reasoning, the argument from authority is considered a logical fallacy.

5. noun Official permission; authorisation to act in some capacity on behalf of a ruling entity.
6. noun A government-owned agency that runs a revenue-generating activity for public benefit.

   New York Port Authority

Similar words

say-so agency authorization dominance sanction assurance bureau sureness self-assurance self-confidence

Often followed by

of to and in over for is on was

Word family

authoritative authorities