authority

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ɔːˈθɒrəti/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /əˈθɑrəti/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular authority

Plural authorities

1. (uncountable) To have authority means to have the power to make a decision.

   This judge has the authority to throw you in jail.

2. (countable) If you are an authority on something, many people think you know very, very much about it.

   The Pope is the highest authority in the Catholic church.

Synonyms

• group
• power
• right
• experience
• evidence
• knowledge
• board
• ability
• weight
• source
• agency

Related words

• authoritative
• authoritatively
• authoritativeness

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