Noun: authority u'thor-u-tee or o'thó-ru-tee [N. Amer], o'thó-ru-tee or u'thó-ru-tee [Brit]
- The power or right to give orders or make decisions
"he has the authority to issue warrants";
- authorization, authorisation [Brit], potency, dominance, say-so
- Official permission or approval
"authority for the program was renewed several times";
- authorization, authorisation [Brit], sanction, clearance
- (usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others
"the authorities have issued a curfew"
- An expert whose views are taken as definitive
"he is an authority on corporate law"
- An administrative unit of government
"Tennessee Valley Authority";
- agency, federal agency, government agency, bureau, office
- Freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
"she spoke with authority";
- assurance, self-assurance, confidence, self-confidence, sureness
- An authoritative written work
"this book is the final authority on the life of Milton"
Derived forms: authorities
See also: certain, incertain [non-standard], sure, uncertain, unsure
Type of: actor, administrative body, administrative unit, book, certainty, control, doer, expert, permission, worker
Encyclopedia: Authority