What does "authority" mean?
Power or right to make or enforce rules, give orders, or impose obligation; or a position having such power or right.
Authority
/əˈθɔɹədi/ noun
noun ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Power or right to make or enforce rules, give orders, or impose obligation; or a position having such power or right.
- Grammar: authority is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: authorization, absolutism, academic expert, acme.
- Useful contrasts: most out of power, no power, amateur.
- Usage evidence: Teachers shouldn't fall back on their authority.
How to use "authority"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "authority" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "authority" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "authority" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "authority" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "authority" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "authorization" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "authority", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Power or right to make or enforce rules, give orders, or impose obligation; or a position having such power or right. uncountable
"I have the authority to penalise the staff in my department, but not the authority to sack them."
- 2 official permission or approval wordnet
- 3 Persons, regarded collectively, who occupy official positions of power; police or law enforcement. countable, plural, uncountable
"Authorities say the suspect fled on foot."
- 4 the power or right to give orders or make decisions wordnet
- 5 A reliable, definitive source of information on a subject. countable
"the world's foremost authority on orangutans"
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities wordnet
- 7 Status as a trustworthy source of information, reputation for mastery or expertise; or claim to such status or reputation. uncountable
"Due to being inadequate for the deductive method of reasoning, the argument from authority is considered a logical fallacy."
- 8 an authoritative written work wordnet
- 9 Official permission; authorisation to act in some capacity on behalf of a ruling entity. uncountable
"Authority to construct eight carriages, to test the new design in public service, had already been given; but of course complete working drawings had first to be prepared."
- 10 an administrative unit of government wordnet
- 11 A government-owned agency that runs a revenue-generating activity for public benefit. countable
"New York Port Authority"
- 12 an expert whose views are taken as definitive wordnet
- 13 (usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Teachers shouldn't fall back on their authority."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "authority"?
Common synonyms include: authorization, absolutism, academic expert, acme, adept, administration.
How do you use "authority" in a sentence?
Teachers shouldn't fall back on their authority.
How do you pronounce "authority"?
Pronounced /əˈθɔɹədi/.
Etymology
From Middle English auctorite, autorite (“authority, book or quotation that settles an argument”), from Old French auctorité, from Latin stem of auctōritās (“invention, advice, opinion, influence, command”), from auctor (“master, leader, author”). For the presence of the h, compare the etymology of author.