au ‧ thor ‧ i ‧ ty W1 AC /ɔːˈθɒrəti, ɔːˈθɒrɪti, ə- $ ɒːˈθɑː-, əˈθɔː-/ BrE AmE noun ( plural authorities )
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ authority , ↑ authorization , ↑ authoritarian , ↑ authoritarianism ; adjective : ↑ authoritarian , ↑ authoritative , authorized ≠ ↑ unauthorized ; verb : ↑ authorize ; adverb : ↑ authoritatively ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: auctorité , from Latin auctoritas 'opinion, decision, power' , from auctor ; ⇨ ↑ author 1 ]
1 . POWER [uncountable] the power you have because of your official position
the authority to do something
Only the president has the authority to declare war.
authority over
Several countries claim authority over the islands.
in authority
I need to speak to someone in authority (=who has a position of power) .
2 . the authorities [plural] the people or organizations that are in charge of a particular country or area:
an agreement between the US and Colombian authorities
3 . ORGANIZATION [countable] an official organization or a government department that has the power to make decisions, and has particular responsibilities:
the local authority
East Sussex Education Authority
the San Diego Water Authority
Welsh health authorities face a £13m deficit this year.
4 . EXPERT [countable] someone who knows a lot about a subject and whose knowledge and opinions are greatly respected
authority on
Mr Li is a leading authority on Chinese food.
5 . PERMISSION [uncountable and countable] official permission to do something
under the authority of somebody
The attack took place under the authority of the UN Security Council.
without sb’s authority
No one may enter without my authority.
6 . authority figure someone who has a position of power, especially because of their job:
teenage rebellion against authority figures
7 . PERSONAL QUALITY [uncountable] a quality in the way you speak or behave which makes people obey you:
Jack’s air of quiet authority
8 . I have it on good authority used to say that you are sure that something is true because you trust the person who told you about it
9 . speak with authority to be sure of what you are saying, because of your knowledge or experience
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have authority
Teachers should have the authority to discipline their students.
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He has no authority over us anymore.
▪ exercise/exert your authority ( also wield authority formal ) (=use your authority)
In practice it’s very difficult for the president to exercise his authority.
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He was one of those people who want to wield authority over others.
▪ abuse/misuse your authority (=use your authority in a bad way)
The mayor was accused of abusing his authority and taking bribes.
▪ establish/assert/impose/stamp your authority (=show people that you have authority)
The new manager was anxious to establish her authority.
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Robertson quickly stamped his authority on the team.
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The State Department pressed him to take bolder steps to assert his authority.
▪ lose your authority
He’s worried that he is losing his authority over the party.
▪ undermine/weaken sb’s authority (=make someone’s authority weaker)
I wasn’t trying to undermine your authority.
▪ exceed/overstep your authority (=do more than you have the power or right to do)
A higher court decided that the judge had exceeded his authority.
▪ challenge sb’s authority (=try to take the power away from someone)
There had been no-one to really challenge his authority.
■ adjectives
▪ full/complete/total authority
The manager has full authority to make decisions.
▪ absolute authority (=complete authority over everyone – used especially about the leader of a country)
In those days, the emperor had absolute authority.
▪ parental authority
The younger children are more likely to resist parental authority.
▪ governmental authority
Their failure undermined governmental authority.
▪ presidential authority
A number of constitutional amendments have increased presidential authority.
▪ legal authority
US agents have legal authority to bring criminals back from overseas.
■ phrases
▪ be in a position of authority
I’ve never been in a position of authority before.
▪ have an air of authority approving (=look like you have authority, in a way that makes people obey you)
The commander had an unmistakeable air of authority.
▪ a challenge to sb’s authority
The leadership saw the demonstrations as a challenge to their authority.
▪ an authority figure (=someone, such as a parent or teacher, who has the power to tell young people what they can do)
The teacher is an authority figure, like the parent.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ expert someone who has a lot of knowledge about something or skill at doing something:
a computer expert
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an expert on beetles
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It’s best to ask an expert.
▪ specialist an expert who has studied a particular medical or technical subject for a long time and knows much more about it than other people:
She is a specialist in corporate finance.
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My doctor sent me to see a heart specialist.
▪ authority an expert whose knowledge and opinions are greatly respected:
The professor is one of the world’s leading authorities on African art.
▪ connoisseur /ˌkɒnəˈsɜː $ ˌkɑːnəˈsɜːr/ an expert on food, art, literature, or design, who has had a lot of experience and knows when something is of very good quality:
He was a connoisseur of fine wines.
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His works are popular among connoisseurs.
▪ buff /bʌf/ informal someone who is very interested in a subject and knows a lot about it:
a wine buff
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Jazz buffs will be familiar with the band’s first album.
▪ virtuoso /ˌvɜːtʃuˈəʊsəʊ $ ˌvɜːrtʃuˈoʊsoʊ/ an expert player or performer:
The piece was played by violin virtuoso Pavel Sporcl.
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a virtuoso pianist