Authority | Mean of authority in English Dictionary

/əˈθorəti/

• Noun
• the power to give orders or make decisions
1. Only department managers have the authority [=right, power] to change the schedule.
2. Does he have the authority to do this? = (US) Does he have authority to do this?
3. This office has authority over personnel matters. [=this office has the power to make decisions about personnel matters]
4. You don't have authority over me. [=you don't have the power to give me orders]
5. The boss is not popular but his authority is unquestioned.
6. “Who gave him the authority to do this?” “He didn't do it on his own authority [=he didn't do it on his own]; he was acting under the authority of the company president.” [=the company president gave him the power to do it]
7. No one in authority objected to the plan. = No one in a position of authority objected to the plan. [=no one with official power to make important decisions objected to the plan]
8. a figure of authority = an authority figure [=a person who has authority over other people]
• the confident quality of someone who knows a lot about something or who is respected or obeyed by other people
1. She has an air of authority.
2. She spoke with authority [=authoritatively] about the history of the building.
• a quality that makes something seem true or real
1. His sincerity added much more authority [=credibility] to the story.
2. Her southern accent lent authority to her performance.
3. His opinions lacked authority.

• people who have power to make decisions and enforce rules and laws
1. We reported the incident to hospital authorities.
2. Local authorities are investigating the accident.
3. He complained to the authorities [=the police] about the disturbance.
• a person who is an expert on a subject
1. He is an authority on local history. [=he knows a lot about local history]
• a government organization that has control of a specified activity or area
1. She is the director of the city's housing authority.