The term authority identifies the political legitimacy, which grants and justifies rulers' right to exercise the power of government; and the term power identifies the ability to accomplish an …

power, authority, jurisdiction, control, command, sway, dominion mean the right to govern or rule or determine. power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

Authority definition: the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control, command, or determine.. See examples of AUTHORITY used …

Authority, control, influence denote a power or right to direct the actions or thoughts of others.

AUTHORITY definition: 1. the moral or legal right or ability to control: 2. a group of people with official…. Learn more.

Definition of authority noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

1. the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues; the right to control, command, or determine. 2. a power or right delegated or given; authorization.

If you have the authority to do something, you have the right or power to do it. You are the big cheese. Or, if you know more about a topic than most, you are an authority on that topic. …

Factsheet What does the noun authority mean? There are ten meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun authority. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Nov 16, 2025 · From Middle English auctorite, autorite (“authority, book or quotation that settles an argument”), from Old French auctorité, from Latin stem of auctōritās (“invention, advice, …