authoritativeness

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

au•thor•i•ta•tive /əˈθɔrɪˌteɪtɪv, əˈθɑr-/   adj. 

1. having or showing authority;
   official:
   authoritative orders.
2. supported by evidence and accepted;
   able to be trusted:
   the authoritative account of the story.
3. having an air or appearance of authority:
   an authoritative manner.

au•thor•i•ta•tive•ly, adv. 
au•thor•i•ta•tive•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

au•thor•i•ta•tive  (ə thôr′i tā′tiv, ə thor′-), adj. 

1. having due authority;
   having the sanction or weight of authority:
   an authoritative opinion.
2. substantiated or supported by documentary evidence and accepted by most authorities in a field:
   an authoritative edition of Shakespeare; an authoritative treatment of a subject.
3. having an air of authority;
   accustomed to exercising authority;
   positive;
   peremptory;
   dictatorial:
   said with an authoritative air.

• authorit(y) + -ative 1595–1605

au•thor′i•ta′tive•ly, adv. 
au•thor′i•ta′tive•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. . official.
• 3. . dogmatic, authoritarian.