authority
/ɔ:'θɔriti/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience: This refers to the legitimate or official capacity to control, command, or direct others. 2. A person or organization having political or administrative power and control: Often used in the plural ("authorities") to refer to government bodies or officials. 3. An expert in a particular subject; a source of reliable information or knowledge: A person or text whose opinion or work is accepted as definitive and trustworthy. 4. Confident and commanding quality that inspires belief or obedience: The self-assured manner of someone who knows what they are doing or talking about. 5. Official permission or sanction: The right or approval granted by a person or body in power.
Examples of Usage
- Power/Right:
- Only the manager has the authority to approve these expenses.
- The court granted him authority over his children's estate.
- Governing Body/Person:
- The local authorities are responsible for maintaining the roads.
- He was reported to the authorities for breaking the law.
- Expert/Source:
- She is a leading authority on medieval history.
- This textbook is the standard authority on the subject.
- Confident Manner:
- She spoke with such authority that everyone listened.
- He lacks the authority to be an effective leader.
- Official Permission:
- We cannot proceed without the authority of the board.
- He acted under the authority of a search warrant.
Advanced Usage
- "To have it on good authority": To have information from a reliable source.
- I have it on good authority that the announcement will be made tomorrow.
- "To be in authority": To hold a position of power.
- The people in authority must be held accountable.
- "To exercise authority": To use one's power or right to command.
- He exercises his authority fairly and wisely.
Variants and Related Words
- Authoritative (adj): Having the confident quality of an expert; commanding and self-assured. Also used to describe a text that is considered definitive.
- an authoritative tone of voice; an authoritative study
- Authorize (verb): To give official permission for or approval to.
- I am not authorized to discuss that.
- Authorization (noun): The official permission or power to do something.
- You will need written authorization.
Synonyms
- Power, jurisdiction, command (for meaning 1).
- Government, administration, officials (for meaning 2).
- Expert, specialist, master (for meaning 3).
- Assurance, confidence, command (for meaning 4).
- Permission, sanction, consent (for meaning 5).
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- To vest authority in someone: To confer or bestow power upon someone.
- The constitution vests authority in the elected representatives.
Related Idioms
- "An authority figure": A person who represents or wields power, such as a parent, teacher, or police officer.
- As a teacher, you are an authority figure to your students.
- "To speak with authority": To speak in a way that shows expert knowledge or confidence, so that people believe you.
- On this topic, she can speak with authority.
Noun
- an authoritative written work
- this book is the final authority on the life of Milton
- official permission or approval
- authority for the program was renewed several times
- an administrative unit of government
- the Central Intelligence Agency
- the Census Bureau
- Office of Management and Budget
- Tennessee Valley Authority
- freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
- his assurance in his superiority did not make him popular
- after that failure he lost his confidence
- she spoke with authority
- an expert whose views are taken as definitive
- he is an authority on corporate law
- (usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others
- the authorities have issued a curfew
- the power or right to give orders or make decisions
- he has the authority to issue warrants
- deputies are given authorization to make arrests
- a place of potency in the state