Definition

Noun: - Authority; power of office: The legitimate power, influence, and right to make decisions or give orders that is inherent to a specific position or role. - Official capacity: The sphere of action and responsibility defined by one's official post or title.

Usage Examples

• (He never abuses his authority.)
• (With her current official capacity, she can approve this project.)
• (He only thinks about positional power and personal gain.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a neutral or formal connotation regarding the power attached to a role, but it can be used critically to imply an excessive focus on hierarchical power.
• It is commonly used in administrative, governmental, and organizational contexts.

Variants and Related Words

• Quyền lực (n): Power, authority (a broader term not necessarily tied to a specific office).
• Chức vụ (n): Position, post, office (emphasizes the title/duty more than the power).
• Chức trách (n): Office and its associated responsibilities.

Synonyms

• Authority
• Official power
• Jurisdiction (within a defined area of control)
• Competence (in the sense of legal or official capacity)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Lạm dụng chức quyền: To abuse one's power/authority.
  • Việc lạm dụng chức quyền sẽ bị trừng trị. (The abuse of authority will be punished.)
• Mưu cầu chức quyền: To scheme or seek after positions of power.
  • Hắn ta chỉ biết mưu cầu chức quyền. (He only knows how to scheme for official power.)

noun

1. competence; right of one's office