# authority

/əˈθɔɹəti/ (US) · /ɐθˈɒɹɪtˌi/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. power or right

noun · CEFR B1

the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce rules.

For teachers: the institutional or legal power to command, make decisions, or enforce obedience. Often uncountable in this sense.

- The captain has the authority to decide when the ship leaves the port.
- The manager exercised her authority by dismissing the staff members who consistently failed to meet safety standards.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'over' or 'to'.

### 2. the people in charge

noun · CEFR B1

the people or organisations that are in charge of a particular country or area.

For teachers: the collective body of persons or the administrative department in which power is vested. Usually plural when referring to the police or government officials.

- You should report the stolen car to the local authorities immediately.
- The health authorities issued a warning after several cases of food poisoning were linked to the local market.

### 3. an expert

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

a person who has a lot of knowledge about a specific subject.

For teachers: a person or text regarded as a definitive and reliable source of information or expertise on a subject.

- She is a leading authority on ancient Greek history and has written many books.
- The professor is widely considered the preeminent authority on climate change patterns in the Arctic region.

Usage: Commonly followed by the preposition 'on'.

### 4. official permission

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

official permission to do something.

For teachers: formal or legal authorisation to act in a specific capacity or to perform a particular task.

- He acted without authority when he signed the contract for the company.
- The agent lacked the legal authority to sell the property without the owner's written consent.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'under the authority of'.

### 5. public agency

noun · CEFR B2

a government organisation that manages a public service, like transport or water.

For teachers: a public administrative body or government-owned agency responsible for a specific public service or infrastructure.

- The local housing authority is building new apartments for families in the city.
- The transit authority announced a significant increase in bus fares to cover the rising costs of fuel and maintenance.

## Examples

- The manager has the authority to hire new staff.
- Local authorities decided to close the park for maintenance after several residents reported safety concerns.
- While the professor is a leading authority on medieval history, he often defers to younger colleagues when discussing the digital preservation of ancient manuscripts.

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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.