authority by Collins

  1. 1) noun, the power or right to control, judge, or prohibit the actions of others
  2. 2) noun, a person or group of people having this power, such as a government, police force, etc
  3. 3) noun, a position that commands such a power or right (often in the phrase in authority)
  4. 4) noun, such a power or right delegated, esp from one person to another; authorization
  5. 5) noun, the ability to influence or control others
  6. 6) noun, an expert or an authoritative written work in a particular field
  7. 7) noun, evidence or testimony
  8. 8) noun, confidence resulting from great expertise
  9. 9) noun, a public board or corporation exercising governmental authority in administering some enterprise
  10. 10) noun, law a) a judicial decision, statute, or rule of law that establishes a principle; precedent b) legal permission granted to a person to perform a specified act

Etymology

C14: from French autorité, from Latin auctōritas, from auctor author

Collins English Electronic Dictionary - Digital Edition: 2008 © HarperCollins Publishers 2008

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Synonyms

strength, liberty, control, licence, connoisseur, control, licence, tolerance, government, police, official, management, administration, Big Brother, prerogative, right, influence, might, force, power, charge, rule, government, weight, direction, command, privilege, warrant, say-so, sway, domination, jurisdiction, supremacy, dominion, ascendancy, mana (N.Z.), expert, specialist, professional, master, ace (informal), scholar, guru, buff (informal), wizard, whizz (informal), virtuoso, arbiter, fundi (S. African), command, power, rule, management, direction, grasp, sway, domination, mastery, dominion, permission, leave, permit, sanction, approval, consent, warrant, say-so, justification, green light, assent, authorize, dispensation, carte blanche, sufferance, informal officialdom

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