the power or right to control, judge, or prohibit the actions of others - (often plural)
a person or group of people having this power, such as a government, police force, etc a position that commands such a power or right (often in the phrase in authority) such a power or right delegated, esp from one person to another; authorization: she has his authority the ability to influence or control others an expert or an authoritative written work in a particular field evidence or testimony confidence resulting from great expertise - (capital when part of a name)
a public board or corporation exercising governmental authority in administering some enterprise: Independent Broadcasting Authority
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
au•thor•i•ty /əˈθɔrɪti, əˈθɑr-/USA pronunciation
n., pl. -ties.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- [uncountable] the right, power, or ability to control, command, or decide.
- [uncountable] power or right officially given;
authorization;
permission. - Government[countable] a body of persons to whom the right to command or decide issues is given, as a government.
- Government Usually, authorities. [plural] persons having the legal power to make and enforce the law;
government:[countable]surrendered to the authorities. - an accepted source of information or advice:[countable]That book is the authority on the subject.
- [countable] an expert on a subject: Ask questions of a real authority on baseball.
- [uncountable] forcefulness;
showing strong belief or conviction: speaks with authority when he lectures.
- have it on good authority, [~ + that clause] to have information from a reliable source:I have it on good authority that she is about to announce her candidacy.
au•thor•i•ty
(ə thôr′i tē, ə thor′-),USA pronunciation n., pl. -ties.
- the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes;
jurisdiction;
the right to control, command, or determine. - a power or right delegated or given;
authorization:Who has the authority to grant permission? - Governmenta person or body of persons in whom authority is vested, as a governmental agency.
- GovernmentUsually, authorities. persons having the legal power to make and enforce the law;
government:They finally persuaded the authorities that they were not involved in espionage. - an accepted source of information, advice, etc.
- a quotation or citation from such a source.
- an expert on a subject:He is an authority on baseball.
- persuasive force;
conviction:She spoke with authority. - a statute, court rule, or judicial decision that establishes a rule or principle of law;
a ruling. - right to respect or acceptance of one's word, command, thought, etc.;
commanding influence:the authority of a parent; the authority of a great writer. - mastery in execution or performance, as of a work of art or literature or a piece of music.
- a warrant for action;
justification. - testimony;
witness.
- Latin. See author, -ity
- Old French
- Latin auctōritās; replacing Middle English autorite
- earlier auct(h)oritie 1200–50
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged rule, power, sway. Authority, control, influence denote a power or right to direct the actions or thoughts of others. Authority is a power or right, usually because of rank or office, to issue commands and to punish for violations:to have authority over subordinates.Control is either power or influence applied to the complete and successful direction or manipulation of persons or things:to be in control of a project.Influence is a personal and unofficial power derived from deference of others to one's character, ability, or station; it may be exerted unconsciously or may operate through persuasion:to have influence over one's friends.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged sovereign, arbiter.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::