authority

noun

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

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

(uncountable) Official permission; authorisation to act in some capacity on behalf of a ruling entity.

(countable) A reliable, definitive source of information on a subject.

(uncountable) Status as a trustworthy source of information, reputation for mastery or expertise; or claim to such status or reputation.

(countable) A government-owned agency that runs a revenue-generating activity for public benefit.

Roots

auctorauthor- · Latin · originator, author

Synonyms for authority

authorizationn sanctionn agencyn authoritativenessn jurisdictionn dominancen mandaten commissionn dominionn officialsn headshipn paramountcyn

Synonyms & related words for authority

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of authority — including authorization, sanction, agency, authoritativeness, jurisdiction, dominance. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to authority

Explore words related to authority — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include enjoinder, abrogator, powers, authoritative, bureau, decemvir, confidence, reauthorize. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for authority

Common synonyms for authority include authorization, sanction, agency, authoritativeness, jurisdiction, dominance, mandate, commission — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does authority come from?

The word authority breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root author-, from Latin auctor (“originator, author”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.