Authority definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

authority in American English · 1. the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control, command, or ... EnglishDictionary Thesaurus WordLists Grammar EnglishEasyLearningGrammar GrammarPatterns EnglishUsage TeachingResources VideoGuides Conjugations Quiz Englishgrammar Englishcollocations Englishconfusables Englishidioms Englishusage Thematicwordlists English French German Italian Spanish Portuguese Hindi Chinese Korean Definitionof 'authority'    WordFrequency Share× Credits× authority (ɔːθɒrɪti ,US-θɔːr- ) Wordforms:pluralauthorities 1. pluralnoun Theauthoritiesarethepeoplewhohavethepowertomakedecisionsandtomakesurethatlawsareobeyed. Thisprovidedapretextfortheauthoritiestocanceltheelections. Theprisonauthoritieshavebeencriticisedfornotendingtheprotestmorequickly. Synonyms:powersthatbe,government,police,officials MoreSynonymsofauthority 2. countablenoun[oftinnames] Anauthorityisanofficialorganizationorgovernmentdepartmentthathasthepowertomakedecisions. ...theHealthEducationAuthority. Anyalterationshadtomeettheapprovalofthelocalplanningauthority. 3. Seealsolocalauthority 4. uncountablenoun Authorityistherighttocommandandcontrolotherpeople. Localpolicechiefsshouldre-emergeasfiguresofauthorityandreassuranceintheir areas. Thejudgehadnoauthoritytoorderasecondtrial. Synonyms:prerogative,right,influence,might MoreSynonymsofauthority 5. uncountablenoun Ifsomeonehasauthority,theyhaveaqualitywhichmakesotherpeopletakenoticeofwhattheysay. Hehadnonaturalauthorityandnocapacityforimposinghiswillonothers. 6. uncountablenoun Authorityisofficialpermissiontodosomething. Thepoliceweregivenauthoritytoarrestanyonesuspectedofsubversivethoughts. 7. countablenoun Someonewhoisanauthorityonaparticularsubjectknowsalotaboutit. He'suniversallyrecognizedasanauthorityonRussianaffairs.[+on] Synonyms:expert,specialist,professional,master MoreSynonymsofauthority 8. Seehaveitongoodauthority MoreSynonymsofauthority COBUILDAdvancedEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Video:pronunciationof authority Youmayalsolike EnglishQuizConfusables Synonymsof'authority' LanguageLover'sBlog FrenchTranslationof'authority' Translateyourtext PronunciationPlaylists Wordoftheday:'hoya' HindiTranslationof'authority' NEWfromCollins! EnglishGrammar CollinsApps WordFrequency authorityinBritishEnglish (ɔːˈθɒrɪtɪ ) nounWordforms:plural-ties1. thepowerorrighttocontrol,judge,orprohibittheactionsofothers 2. (oftenplural) apersonorgroupofpeoplehavingthispower,suchasagovernment,policeforce,etc 3. apositionthatcommandssuchapowerorright(ofteninthephraseinauthority) 4. suchapowerorrightdelegated,espfromonepersontoanother;authorization shehashisauthority 5. theabilitytoinfluenceorcontrolothers amanofauthority 6. anexpertoranauthoritativewrittenworkinaparticularfield heisanauthorityonMingchina 7. evidenceortestimony wehaveitonhisauthoritythatsheisdead 8. confidenceresultingfromgreatexpertise theviolinistlackedauthorityinhiscadenza 9. (capitalwhenpartofaname) apublicboardorcorporationexercisinggovernmentalauthorityinadministeringsomeenterprise IndependentBroadcastingAuthority 10. lawa. ajudicialdecision,statute,orruleoflawthatestablishesaprinciple;precedent b. legalpermissiongrantedtoapersontoperformaspecifiedact CollinsEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers WordoriginC14:fromFrenchautorité,fromLatinauctōritas,fromauctorauthor WordFrequency authorityinAmericanEnglish (əˈθɔrəti ;əˈθɑrəti ) nounWordforms:pluralauˈthorities1. a.  thepowerorrighttogivecommands,enforceobedience,takeaction,ormakefinaldecisions;jurisdiction b.  thepositionofonehavingsuchpower apersoninauthority 2.  suchpowerasdelegatedtoanother;authorization;warrant hehasmyauthoritytodoit 3.  powerorinfluenceresultingfromknowledge,prestige,etc. 4. a.  thecitationofawriting,decision,etc.insupportofanopinion,action,etc. b.  thewriting,etc.cited 5.  reliabilityofasourceorwitness 6. a. [pl.] persons,esp.ingovernment,havingthepowerorrighttoenforceorders,laws,etc. b.  agovernmentagencythatadministersaproject 7.  apersonwithmuchknowledgeorexperienceinsomefield,whoseinformationoropinionishencereliable;expert 8.  self-assuranceandexpertnessthatcomewithexperience thepianist'sperformancelackedauthority SIMILARWORDS: ˈinfluence,ˈpower Webster’sNewWorldCollegeDictionary,4thEdition.Copyright©2010by HoughtonMifflinHarcourt.Allrightsreserved. WordoriginMEautorite