# authorities

/əˈθɔɹətiz/ (US) · /ɐθˈɒɹɪtˌiz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/authorities
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. government or officials

noun · CEFR B2

the people or organisations in power, such as the government or local council.

For teachers: the collective bodies or individuals possessing political or administrative power in a specific sphere.

- The local authorities are planning to build a new park in the city centre.
- The regional authorities have faced significant criticism for their failure to address the housing shortage before the winter months.

Usage: Usually plural; often used with the definite article 'the'.

### 2. law enforcement

noun · CEFR B2

the police or other groups that make sure people follow the law.

For teachers: the agencies or bodies responsible for enforcing law and order or providing essential public services.

- He decided to report the stolen car to the authorities immediately.
- The suspect was eventually apprehended and handed over to the authorities for further questioning regarding the series of robberies.

Usage: Typically refers to the police or border control when used in a legal context.

### 3. experts

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

people who have a lot of knowledge about a specific subject.

For teachers: individuals or texts recognised as having definitive knowledge or expertise in a particular field.

- The two professors are leading authorities on ancient Greek history.
- The conference brought together the world's leading authorities on climate science to discuss the latest data on rising sea levels.

## Examples

- You must report the accident to the authorities immediately.
- The local authorities decided to close the park for repairs after the heavy storm caused significant damage.
- Despite several warnings from environmental groups, the authorities failed to implement stricter regulations on industrial waste disposal until the river became visibly polluted.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.