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- Dictionaryauthority/ɔːˈθɒrɪti/
noun
- 1. the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience: "he had absolute authority over his subordinates" Similar
- 2. a person or organization having political or administrative power and control: "health authorities issued a worldwide alert" Similar
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AUTHORITY definition: 1. the moral or legal right or ability to control: 2. a group of people with official…. Learn more.
The meaning of AUTHORITY is power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior. How to use authority in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Authority.
AUTHORITY meaning: 1. the moral or legal right or ability to control: 2. a group of people with official…. Learn more.
a statute, court rule, or judicial decision that establishes a rule or principle of law; a ruling. right to respect or acceptance of one's word, command, thought, etc.; commanding influence: the authority of a parent; the authority of a great writer.
If you have the authority to do something, you have the right or power to do it. You are the big cheese. Or, if you know more about a topic than most, you are an authority on that topic. Giving someone authority grants them the power to make important decisions or have accepted opinions.
[countable, usually plural] the people or an organization who have the power to make decisions or who have a particular area of responsibility in a country or region. I have to report this to the authorities. The health authorities are investigating the problem.
authority is a power or right, usually because of rank or office, to issue commands and to punish for violations: to have authority over subordinates. control is either power or influence applied to the complete and successful direction or manipulation of persons or things: to be in control of a project. influence is a personal and unofficial ...
the quality of being confident and being able to control people: She has an air of authority. an authority on sth. someone who has a lot of knowledge about a particular subject: She is an authority on seventeenth-century English literature. See also. local authority.
1. the power or right to control, judge, or prohibit the actions of others. 2. ( often plural) a person or group of people having this power, such as a government, police force, etc. 3. a position that commands such a power or right (often in the phrase in authority)
a:the confident quality of someone who knows a lot about something or who is respected or obeyed by other people. She has an air of authority. She spoke with authority [= authoritatively] about the history of the building. b:a quality that makes something seem true or real. His sincerity added much more authority [= credibility] to the story.