authority

noun

ə-ˈthȯr-ə-tē How to pronounce authority (audio)
Definition of authoritynext
1
as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field the leading authority on neural anatomy

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2
as in government
lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) the sheriff had authority over the whole county

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3
as in influence
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly speaks with a persuasive authority on matters of public health

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4
as in power
the right or means to command or control others by the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you married

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5
as in reason
something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing I had good authority to believe that the information was correct

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6
as in source
something mentioned in a text as providing related and especially supporting information the Bible is the sole authority for his impassioned defense of creationism

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7
as in effectiveness
the capacity to persuade a strict grammarian whose pronouncements carried plenty of authority with my third-grade English teacher

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun authority contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of authority are command, control, dominion, jurisdiction, power, and sway. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

When is command a more appropriate choice than authority?

While the synonyms command and authority are close in meaning, command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When would control be a good substitute for authority?

The meanings of control and authority largely overlap; however, control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

When might dominion be a better fit than authority?

The words dominion and authority can be used in similar contexts, but dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

When can jurisdiction be used instead of authority?

In some situations, the words jurisdiction and authority are roughly equivalent. However, jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

In what contexts can power take the place of authority?

The words power and authority are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

When could sway be used to replace authority?

The synonyms sway and authority are sometimes interchangeable, but sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of authority New York authorities identify possible Gilgo Beach victim known as 'Peaches' New York authorities on Wednesday announced the identity of a possible Gilgo Beach serial killer victim known as 'Peaches,' whose torso was found in a park in Lakeview, New York, in 1997. —Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025 Unlike medicine, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn’t have the authority to approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before the products are sold to the public. —Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025 Zozo said the acquisition of Lyst will form the cornerstone of its international expansion strategy, while Lyst’s brand authority and intelligence will be further strengthened by leveraging Zozo’s market leadership in Japan. —Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 9 Apr. 2025 Three suspects are in custody after a hit-and-run on the 134 Freeway led to a manhunt in Eagle Rock and a police shooting, authorities said. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for authority
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authority
  1. expert
  2. government
  3. influence
  4. power
  5. reason
  6. source
  7. master
  8. rule
Noun
  • All the fashion experts—including Hailey Bieber—have surrendered to their charm.
    — Isabel Serra, Glamour, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Here’s what the experts have to say about why grief shows up in the body and how to cope with it.
    — Kathleen Ferraro, SELF, 15 Apr. 2025
Definition of expert
Noun
  • The government responded an hour later that the mother had been released in Honduras, the filing states.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
  • The slap of firm government is the only way to right admissions, hiring, antisemitism, and staff bloat.
    — Brian T. Allen, National Review, 26 Apr. 2025
Definition of government
Noun
  • Advocacy, messaging and partnerships must go where the influence is moving.
    — Toby Wong, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
    — Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of influence
Noun
  • Hugo saw that something as simple as shoes could be solved with the right approach and insights, cementing his belief in the power of technology to solve real-world problems.
    — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Earlier this month, it was revealed that Massive Entertainment's ambitious action-adventure game would be coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025, which speaks well about the raw graphical power of Nintendo's new hybrid console.
    — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Definition of power
Noun
  • The reason for the independence, the Brookings Institution explains, is that politicians tend to want lower interest rates because lower rates stimulate the economy.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The reason for the increase in the Tigers’ team score came after a review of Mizzou’s third rotation — balance beam.
    — Henry Chappell, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of reason
Noun
  • Tesla's lower-cost Model Y: US launch pushed back as sources reveal production challengesNeed a break?
    — Mike Scarcella, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • What To Know The man was on the fifth floor of Trump Tower and in an emotionally disturbed state, The New York Daily News reported, citing a police source.
    — Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025
Definition of source
Noun
  • Select one platform and master it rather than spreading yourself too thin.
    — Vicky Owens, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Coogler attended the University of Southern California’s School of the Cinematic Arts, obtaining a master’s degree in fine arts in 2011.
    — Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025
Definition of master
Noun
  • The only issue with the price Chelsea Women was sold for was that they were bought by their parent company in a move that helped the men’s team comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) in 2023-24.
    — Matt Slater, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The top attorney for a California board that enforces labor rules said Thursday that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office may have violated state law over its handling of an order directing many public employees to work in person four days a week.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of rule

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authority
authorization
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Cite this Entry

“Authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authority. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on authority

Nglish: Translation of authority for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about authority

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