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- DictionaryAu·thor·i·ty/əˈTHôrədē/
noun
- 1. the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience: "he had absolute authority over his subordinates" Similar powerjurisdictioncommandcontrolmasterychargedominancedominionrulesovereigntyascendancysupremacydominationinfluenceswaythe upper handleverageholdgripinformal:cloutpullmuscleteethdrag
- ▪ the right to act in a specified way, delegated from one person or organization to another: "military forces have the legal authority to arrest drug traffickers" Similar authorizationrightpowermandateprerogativelicensecarte blanchehistorical:droit
- ▪ official permission; sanction: "the money was spent without congressional authority" Similar authorizationpermissionconsentleavesanctionlicensedispensationassentacquiescenceagreementapprovalseal of approvalapprobationendorsementimprimaturclearanceinformal:the go-aheadthe thumbs upthe OKthe green lightsay-sorare:permit
- 2. a person or organization having power or control in a particular, typically political or administrative, sphere: "the health authorities" Similar officialsofficialdomthe people in chargethe governmentthe administrationthe establishmentthe bureaucracythe systemthe policeinformal:the powers that bethe (men in) suitsBig Brother
- 3. the power to influence others, especially because of one's commanding manner or one's recognized knowledge about something: "he has the natural authority of one who is used to being obeyed" Similar powerjurisdictioncommandcontrolmasterychargedominancedominionrulesovereigntyascendancysupremacydominationinfluenceswaythe upper handleverageholdgripinformal:cloutpullmuscleteethdrag
- ▪ the confidence resulting from personal expertise: "he hit the ball with authority"
- ▪ a person with extensive or specialized knowledge about a subject; an expert: "she was an authority on the stock market" Similar influenceswaycontrolleveragepowercommandweightreputationstandingkudosstatusstatureprestigegravitasimageesteemsupremacysuperiorityeminencerankpositionstationcredibilityplausibilityintegrityacceptancetrustfaithconfidenceinformal:cloutpulldrag
- ▪ a book or other source able to supply reliable information or evidence, typically to settle a dispute: "the court cited a series of authorities supporting their decision" Similar sourcereferencepiece of documentationcitationquotationquoteexcerptpassage
Word Origin Middle English: from Old French autorite, from Latin auctoritas, from auctor ‘originator, promoter’ (see author).
Scrabble Points: 15
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