authority
noun
au·thor·i·ty
ə-ˈthȯr-ə-tē 
ȯ-,
-ˈthär-
plural authorities
1
a
: power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior
the president's authority
b
: freedom granted by one in authority : right
Who gave you the authority to do as you wish?
2
a
: persons in command
b
: a governmental agency or corporation to administer a revenue-producing public enterprise
the transit authority
the city's housing authority
3
4
a(1)
: a citation (as from a book or file) used in defense or support
(2)
: the source from which the citation is drawn
He quoted extensively from the Bible, his sole authority.
b(1)
: a conclusive statement or set of statements (such as an official decision of a court)
(2)
: a decision taken as a precedent
(3)
c
: an individual cited or appealed to as an expert
The prosecutor called the psychiatrist as an authority.
Synonyms
Examples of authority in a Sentence
The boss is not popular but his authority is unquestioned.
She has an air of authority.
Her southern accent lent authority to her performance.
We reported the incident to hospital authorities.
Local authorities are investigating the accident.
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump could use the executive branch’s authority to rescind certain proposals.
—
Li Zhou, WIRED, 23 Nov. 2024
The gaming authority of the United Arab Emirates just handed Wynn Resorts a second massive win in as many months.
—Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
As the city has jurisdiction over the rates and services the utility provides, Bee Cave has the authority to approve or deny the request for the city’s service area, according to what Brocato told the City Council in June.
—Rachel Royster, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Kennedy would have the authority as HHS secretary to establish regulations related to food and drug safety and public health.
—Graham Kates, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for authority 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Li Zhou, WIRED, 23 Nov. 2024
The gaming authority of the United Arab Emirates just handed Wynn Resorts a second massive win in as many months.
—Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
As the city has jurisdiction over the rates and services the utility provides, Bee Cave has the authority to approve or deny the request for the city’s service area, according to what Brocato told the City Council in June.
—Rachel Royster, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Kennedy would have the authority as HHS secretary to establish regulations related to food and drug safety and public health.
—Graham Kates, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for authority
Dictionary Entries Near authority
Cite this Entry
“Authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authority. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
authority
noun
au·thor·i·ty
ə-ˈthär-ət-ē
ȯ-,
-ˈthȯr-
plural authorities
1
a
: a fact or statement that is used to support a position or decision
b
: a person looked to as an expert
2
: the right to give commands : the power to influence the behavior of others
the authority to hire workers
3
: persons having powers of government
local authorities
4
: the quality of being convincing
spoke with authority
Legal Definition
authority
noun
au·thor·i·ty
plural authorities
1
: an official decision of a court used especially as a precedent
2
a
: a power to act especially over others that derives from status, position, or office
the authority of the president
also
: jurisdiction
b
: the power to act that is officially or formally granted (as by statute, corporate bylaw, or court order)
within the scope of the treasurer's authority
police officers executing a warrant…are not required to “knock and announce” their authority and purposes before entering—National Law Journal
National Law Journal
c
: power and capacity to act granted by someone in a position of control
specifically
: the power to act granted by a principal to his or her agent
—
actual authority
: the authority that a principal in reality has granted to an agent
—
actual express authority
: the actual authority of an agent specifically stated or written by the principal
—
actual implied authority
: the actual authority of an agent that the principal has not specified but has purposely or through negligence allowed the agent to believe has been granted
—
apparent authority
: the authority that a principal purposely or through negligence allows a third party to believe that the principal's agent has although such authority has not in reality been granted
called also authority by estoppel, ostensible authority
Note: A principal is bound by the acts of an agent acting with apparent authority.
—
express authority
: authority that is explicitly granted to an agent by a principal
called also expressed authority, stipulated authority
—
implied authority
: the authority to perform acts that are customary, necessary, and understood by an agent as authorized in performing acts for which the principal has given express authority
—
ostensible authority
: apparent authority in this entry
—
stipulated authority
: express authority in this entry
3
: a person in a position of power and especially a public office
—usually used in pl.
the local authorities
4
a
: a government agency or corporation that administers a revenue-producing public enterprise
the transit authority
b
: a government agency or public office responsible for an area of regulation
should apply for a permit to the permitting authority
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