authority

Plural

authorities

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

   • She lost all respect and authority after turning up drunk at the meeting.
   • Vigilantes may have the power to nab criminals, but they lack the authority.
   • I have the authority to penalise the staff in my department, but not the authority to sack them.

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

   • Authorities say the suspect fled on foot.
   • In China, authorities said they might soon shoot down an unidentified flying object over waters near the northern city of Rizhao, The South China Morning Post reported.
   • The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff.

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

   • My cheap dictionary is not the authority on word derivations.
   • To punish me for my contempt of authority, Fate has made me an authority myself.
   • The Egyptian crux ansata, common on Egyptian monuments and other memorials, is considered by some authorities as a triple phallus.

4. 4.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.

Overall

Common· #909

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Uncommon

General reading & writing

Common

Academic

Uncommon

Literature

Rare

Word family

• author