Authority

Definition: Authority

Authority

Noun

1. The power or right to give orders or make decisions; "he has the authority to issue warrants"; "deputies are given authorization to make arrests".

2. (usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others; "the authorities have issued a curfew".

3. An expert whose views are taken as definitive; "he is an authority on corporate law".

4. Freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities; "his assurance in his superiority did not make him popular"; "after that failure he lost his confidence"; "she spoke with authority".

5. An administrative unit of government; "the Central Intelligence Agency"; "the Census Bureau"; "Office of Management and Budget"; "Tennessee Valley Authority".

6. Official permission or approval; "authority for the program was renewed several times".

7. An authoritative written work; "this book is the final authority on the life of Milton".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "authority" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1258. (references)

Etymology: Authority \Au*thor"i*ty\, noun; plural Authorities. [Old English autorite, auctorite, French autorit['e], from Latin auctoritas, from auctor. See Author, noun]. (references)

Economics

Finance

Public Administration

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Synonyms: Authority

Dueness

Sanction, authority, warranty, charter; warrant; (permission);sanction, authority, warranty, charter; warrant; (permission); constitution; (law); tenure; bond; (security).

Evidence

Admission; (assent); authority, warrant, credential, diploma, voucher, certificate, doquet, docket; testamur; record; document; pi

Government

Noun: government, legal authority, soveriegn, sovereign authority; authority; master; direction.

Influence

Noun: influence; importance; weight, pressure, preponderance, prevalence, sway; predominance, predominancy; ascendency; dominance, reign; control, domination, pull; authority; capability; (power); effect; interest.

Information

Informant, authority, teller, intelligencer, reporter, exponent, mouthpiece;

Permission

Permit, warrant, brevet, precept, sanction, authority, firman; hukm; pass, passport; furlough, license, carte blanche, ticket of leave; grant, charter; patent, letters patent.

Power

Ascendency, sway, control; prepotency, prepollence; almightiness, omnipotence; authority; strength.

Crosswords: Authority

You have a problem with authority, Mr. Anderson (The Matrix; writing credit: Andy Wachowski; Larry Wachowski)

You expect to wield supreme executive authority because some watery tart is handing out cutlery (Monty Python and the Holy Grail ; writing credit: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin)

On behalf of my country and in the name of the other leaders of the world with whom I have today consulted, I hereby abidicate all authority and control over this planet to General Zod. (Superman II; writing credit: Jerry Siegel; Joe Shuster)

Shocking abuse of authority. (Clerks.; writing credit: Kevin Smith)

Midge, who do you know that's an authority on San Francisco history (Vertigo; writing credit: Pierre Boileau; Thomas Narcejac)

I don't need your authority (Minority; performing artist: Green Day)

Any law, or authority that utilize borders, prisons, mental (Anarchy Through Capitolism; performing artist: Kottonmouth Kings)

I am the world's greatest authority on my own opinion. (references; author: unknown)

A leading authority is anyone who has guessed right more than once. (references; author: unknown)

At work, the authority of a person is inversely proportional to the number of pens that person is carrying. (references; author: unknown)

The Teacher: Authority or Automaton? (1961)

Brief Authority (1914)

THE AUTHORITY SONG� (performing artist: John Cougar Mellencamp� )

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

References

• Steel Authority of India Limited: International Competitive Benchmarks and Financial Gap Analysis (reference)

  (more reference examples)

Books

• Authority to Heal (reference)

• Become A Recognized Authority In Your Field - In 60 Days Or Less (reference)

• By This Standard: The Authority of God's Law Today (reference)

• Influence Without Authority (reference)

• Obedience to Authority (reference)

  (more book examples)

Periodicals

• Annual Report Of The British Tourist Authority (reference)

• Australian Pc Authority (reference)

• Authority (reference)

• Design Authority (reference)

• Dma: Dance Music Authority (reference)

  (more periodical examples)

Theater & Movies

• Short 3: Authority (reference)

• Freedom and Authority (reference)

• Modern Marvels: Tennessee Valley Authority (reference)

  (more DVD examples; more video examples)

Music

• Chicago Transit Authority [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] (reference)

  (more classical music examples; more popular music examples)

High Tech

• WWF With Authority (reference)

• 4port Port Authority KVM 5-hd15f 10-ps2 (reference)

• MOBILE AUTHORITY NF-20 Ground Loop Isolator (reference)

• Certificate Authority 6.5 (reference)

  (more camera examples; more video game examples; more computer examples; more electronic examples; more software examples)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

District Conservationist Carman Westerfield and Leesa Woodal, Executive Director, Lamar County Exposition Authority tour new tree planting on Barnsville Exposition Center. Assistance provided by RC&D and NRCS. Credit: Jeff Vanuga.

Leisure and play. / Federal Public Housing Authority p. Credit: National Library of Medicine; photo by Peter Sekaer..

Artwork from a 19th or early 20th Century Japanese publication, depicting the last battle in the war that restored the authority of the Japanese Emperor. The leading ship of the Imperial squadron, in the foreground, is the ironclad ram Kotetsu (formerly the Confederate Stonewall). She is followed by the paddle steamer Kasuga. The enemy squadron, shown in the right distance, included the steamers Kaiten, Banryu and Chiyodagata. All three were sunk, but the last two were salvaged and entered service with the Imperial Navy. Credit: NAVY.

Yes, you gave me authority to pick my kind of umpire last November!. Credit: Library of Congress.

Most interesting man, that -- an authority on fish culture : Really! I never ... Credit: Library of Congress.

Parker, Ariz. Apr. 1942. constructing buildings for Japanese-American evacuees at the War relocation authority center on the Colorado River Indian Reservation. Credit: Library of Congress.

Girls of Japanese ancestry playing softball at war relocation authority center, Manzanar, California: Ritsuko Masuda and Marion Fujii with hands on bat, before choosing sides. Credit: Library of Congress.

TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) powerhouse at Tupelo, Mississippi. Credit: Library of Congress.

Newton D. Baker Village, a new defense housing project under the housing authority of Columbus, Georgia. Near Fort Benning. Credit: Library of Congress.

The countryside near the Tennessee Valley Authority dam site, Douglas Dam vicinity, Tenn. Credit: Library of Congress.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

In all states and conditions, the true remedy of force without authority, is to oppose force to it. (Second Treatise of Government)

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. (reference)

Clause 4: When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies. (reference)

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct. (reference)

And as the authority from which they proceed is supreme, and can seldom act, they are designed to be permanent. (reference)

Whereas on the 22nd day of September, A.D. 1862, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit: "That on the 1st day of January, A.D. 1863, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom." (Abraham Lincoln)

The Commission will have all necessary authority to decide any questions to which the execution of these provisions may give rise. (reference)

This can only be achieved by reaching now, in 1946, a good understanding on all points with Russia under the general authority of the United Nations Organization and by the maintenance of that good understanding through many peaceful years, by the world instrument, supported by the whole strength of the English-speaking world and all its connections. ("Iron Curtain" Speech)

The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures. (reference)

Segregation with the sanction of law, therefore, has a tendency to [retard] the educational and mental development of negro children and to deprive them of some of the benefits they would receive in a racial[ly] integrated school system." Whatever may have been the extent of psychological knowledge at the time of Plessy v. Ferguson, this finding is amply supported by modern authority. (reference)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

As he became rational, he ought to have roused himself and shaken off all that was unworthy in their authority.

He looked at the Gryphon as if he thought it had some kind of authority over Alice

This laugh was the highest sign of certainty and authority.

I observed among them a Dutchman, who seemed to be of some authority, though he was not commander of either ship

She spins and weaves and cuts with full authority.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Health

Image presented by authority from the American Lyme Disease Foundation. (references)

Brucellosis is a nationally notifiable disease and reportable to the local health authority. (references)

Contact your health department or animal control authority to make arrangements for rabies testing. (references)

Business

BTC has full operational authority. (references)

This body has no decision-making authority. (references)

Over 10,000 Chinese firms have that authority. (references)

Children

Trinidad and Tobago

At year's end, the Government was taking steps to appoint a board to manage the new authority. (references)

Bulgaria

The decision to commit a child to an Educational Boarding School is made by a local Commission for Combating Juvenile Delinquency, which is generally not held accountable to any higher authority. (references)

Trinidad and Tobago

A companion law established a new Children's Authority to license and monitor community residences, foster homes, and nurseries, and to investigate complaints about the care of children in such locations. (references)

Civil Liberties

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The IMC has broad authority to punish violations to the code of practice. (references)

Singapore

The Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA) censors broadcast media and Internet sites. (references)

Mauritius

In the first half of the year, the Independent Broadcast Authority (IBA) was established. (references)

Discrimination

Zambia

These amendments also prohibit traditional chiefs, who are accorded authority and privileges as chiefs, from running for political office unless they resign their chieftainships. (references)

Economic History

Chile

To date, this authority has never been exercised. (references)

Kenya

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) manages the port operations. (references)

Human Rights

Saint Lucia

Both levels have civil and criminal authority. (references)

Cameroon

The shooting followed a quarrel over authority issues. (references)

Yemen

The committee has no authority except to issue reports. (references)

Indigenous People

Indonesia

When disputes cannot be settled, the Government has the authority to define fair compensation for land. (references)

Gabon

Pygmies largely were independent of formal authority, keeping their own traditions, independent communities, and local decision-making structures. (references)

Australia

Every 3 years, indigenous people elect representatives to sit on 35 regional councils and the Torres Strait Regional Authority, who in turn choose 17 commissioners comprising the ATSIC Board. (references)

Minorities

Israel and the occupied territories

Israel Lands Authority had not fully implemented the ruling by year's end. (references)

Slovak Republic

Some NGO's alleged that this office lacks sufficient authority because the position is not established by law and lacks the authority to present material to the Government. (references)

Austria

A large portion of the public perceive such groups as exploiting the vulnerable for monetary gain, recruiting and brainwashing youth, promoting antidemocratic ideologies, and denying the legitimacy of government authority. (references)

Political Economy

Vietnam

People's Councils, in contrast, have very little real authority. (references)

Norway

In such circumstances, the armed forces are under police authority. (references)

Eq. Guinea

The January 1995 constitution provides for strong executive authority. (references)

Political Rights

Yemen

Central government authority in these areas often is weak. (references)

Swaziland

The King retains ultimate executive and legislative authority, and political parties are prohibited. (references)

Nepal

The King has exclusive authority to enact, amend, and repeal laws relating to succession to the throne. (references)

Trade

Qatar

The Emir has the authority to withhold laws and decrees. (references)

Singapore

The PSB is the national standards and certification authority. (references)

India

A letter of credit is an authority for payment for the exporter. (references)

Travel

Eq. Guinea

The Customs Authority can approve the temporary entry of goods. (references)

Israel

It is not necessary to obtain a visitor's permit from the Palestinian Authority. (references)

West Bank

The following dates are observed as major Muslim holidays in Palestinian Authority. (references)

Women

Congo

Only rarely do they occupy positions of authority or high responsibility. (references)

Oman

Some educated women have attained positions of authority in government, business, and the media. (references)

Cameroon

In many traditional societies, custom grants greater authority and benefits to male than to female heirs. (references)

Worker Rights

Ethiopia

The employees accused the Authority of not allowing them to organize. (references)

Zimbabwe

The ZRP is the primary government authority involved in combating trafficking. (references)

Equatorial Guinea

However, parliamentarians can only rely on moral authority in reaching agreements. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Expressions using "authority": absolute authority ♦ abuse of authority ♦ accept smb.'s authority ♦ accept someone's authority ♦ act on the authority of ♦ airspace control authority ♦ apply to the proper authority ♦ appropriate ats authority ♦ authority figure ♦ authority of father ♦ authority on ♦ badge of authority ♦ be in authority ♦ be under the authority ♦ be under the authority of ♦ Broads Authority ♦ certificate Authority ♦ civil authority ♦ common mark registering authority ♦ coordinating authority ♦ credit sanctioning authority ♦ data protection authority ♦ defense shipping authority ♦ delegation of authority ♦ deprive of authority ♦ designated approving authority ♦ Dutch Data Protection Authority ♦ educational authority ♦ emblem of authority ♦ eminent authority ♦ ensign of authority ♦ exceed one's authority ♦ fly in the face of authority ♦ good authority ♦ granting authority ♦ have authority ♦ have authority over ♦ have no authority to do smth. ♦ health authority ♦ high authority ♦ implied authority ♦ in authority ♦ insignia of authority ♦ internet Assigned Numbers Authority ♦ judicial authority ♦ licensing authority ♦ local authority ♦ local authority district ♦ local authority negotiable bond ♦ meteorological authority ♦ misuse of authority ♦ naming authority ♦ national military authority ♦ national shipping authority ♦ nato military authority ♦ on his own authority ♦ on one's own authority ♦ on the best authority ♦ operational control authority ♦ override one's authority ♦ overstep one's authority ♦ person in authority ♦ Philippine Port Authority ♦ pilotage authority ♦ port authority ♦ reallocation authority ♦ redevelopment authority ♦ regulatory authority ♦ requested authority ♦ s own authority ♦ scope of authority ♦ seat of authority ♦ set in authority ♦ sovereign authority ♦ submarine movement advisory authority ♦ submarine operating authority ♦ supervising authority ♦ supreme authority ♦ tax authority ♦ under the authority of ♦ Unitary Authority ♦ usurp authority ♦ with authority ♦ with complete authority ♦ without authority. Additional references.

Beginning with "authority": authority-based, authority-bashing, authority-bating, authority-controlled, authority-figure, authority-figures, authority-financed, authority-funded, authority-imposed, authority-led, authority-owned, authority-run, authority-sponsored, authority-systems, authority-the, authority-thinking, authority-wide.

Ending with "authority": anti-authority, inter-authority, local-authority.

Containing "authority": health-authority-run, local-authority-wide.

Afrikaans

gesag (glamor, glamour, prestige). (various references)

Albanian

autoritet (arm, authorities, jurisdiction, power, prestige, pundit), person kompetent, kompetencë (ability, adequacy, business, capacity, competence, competency, power, province, purview, reference), e drejtë (access, admittance, business, call, direct, justice, law, right, title, warrant, warranty), burim i besueshëm. (various references)

Arabic 

‏نفوذ (clout, in, influence, leverage, potency, power, prestige, purchase, reign, standing, tutelage, weight, weightiness), ‏قوة مقنعة, ‏قوة نافذة, ‏قوة (ability, agency, arm, birr, capacity, clout, dint, energy, faculty, force, forcefulness, forcing, hardihood, intension, intensity, iron, leverage, might, operation, potency, power, severity, sinew, solidity, stamina, starch, stoutness, strength, vehemence, vigor, vigour, violence, virility, virtue), ‏قسم (administration, allocate, allot, apportion, bisect, break up, deal out, department, distribute, district, divide, division, give out, halve, parcel, part, partition, portion, portion out, region, section, segment, separate, service, share, share out, split, subdivide, swear, take an oath), ‏قبضة (clasp, clutch, control, fist, fistful, grip, handful, hold, holding, pinch), ‏وزن (avoirdupois, counterweight, metering, scale, weigh, weighing, weight, weightiness), ‏حكم (administer, administration, arbiter, arbitration, ascendancy, award, control, decide, decision, deliverance, determination, dispensation, doom, fasten, fastening, find, finding, govern, hand down, judge, judgement, judgment, opinion, reckon, referee, regimen, rule, ruling, run, sway, umpire, verdict), ‏سلطة حاكمة, ‏سلطان (clutch, dominion, lordship, majesty, monarch, power, reign, sultan, suzerainty). (various references)

Bulgarian 

специалист (adept, dab, dabster, fancier, pro, professional, proficient, shark, specialist), тежест (burden, gravity, heaviness, letterweight, load, onus, ponderability, ponderosity, pressure, solemnity, weight), власт (arm, attribution, authorization, control, disposition, grasp, grip, gripe, hand, helm, hold, jurisdiction, lordship, mastership, mastery, obedience, potency, power, reign, rule), авторитетен източник, авторитет (control, force, hold, obedience, potency), пълномощие (commission, deputation, proxy), достоверен източник. (various references)

Chinese 

柄 (handle, hilt), 權柄 , 權威性 (authoritative), 權威 (authoritative), 權 (power, right), �"局 (authorities), 巨�"� (thumb), 大權 (power), 大家 (everyone). (various references)

Czech

autorita (supremacy), váha (gravity, Libra, scale, strength, weigh, weighing machine, weight), svìdectví (attestation, evidence, indication, testimonial, testimony, witness), pravomoc (competence, remit), oprávnìní (authorization, competency), moc (badly, clout, enormously, force, forcefulness, might, mighty, much, potency, power, strength, sway, too, very), kompetence (competence, jurisdiction, remit), kapacita (ability, capacity, power, seating, volume). (various references)

Danish

autoritet. (various references)

Dutch

gezag (glamor, glamour, prestige), autoriteit (glamor, glamour, prestige). (various references)

Esperanto

aŭtoritatulo, aŭtoritato, aŭtoritateco, estreco. (various references)

Faeroese

myndugleiki. (various references)

Farsi 

منبع صحیح وموثق , مدرک یاماخذی ازکتاب معتبریاسندی , نفوذ (Dominance, Force, Hank, Importance, Infiltration, Influence, Influx, Osmosis, Prestige, Prevalence, Seepage), نویسنده ء معتبر, قدرت (Godown, Might, Nerve, Posse, Potency, Power, Rod, Sovereignty, Vim, Vis, Zing), تواناءی (Ability, Energy, Influence, Might, Potency, Strength, Vim), اولیاء امور, اعتبار (Authenticity, Credibility, Credit, Esteem, Estimate, Importance, Influence, Prestige, Reliability, Reputation, Trust), اختیار (Adoption, Credential, Liberty, Mandate, Option), اجازه (Liberty, Okay, Permission, Permit). (various references)

Finnish

arvovalta (prestinge). (various references)

French

autorité (designated approving authority), pouvoir (authorization). (various references)

German

autorität (power), vollmacht (faculty, full power, letter of attorney, mandate, power, power of attorney, proxy), behörde (authorities, board of directors, bureau, office), befehlsgewalt (command), Amtsbefugnis. (various references)

Greek 

εξουσία (control, dominion, power, sway), αυθεντία. (various references)

Hebrew 

משטר (government, polity, regime, regimen, reign, rule), מרות (discipline, mastery, obedience, rule), יפוי כח (accreditation, authorization, commission, power of attorney, warrant), שליט�" (ascendancy, command, control, disposal, disposition, dominance, domination, dominion, mastery, predominance, predomination, proficiency, take over), שלטון (administration, government, power, rule), שרר�" (administration, dominion, power, rule), אוטוריט�", א�"� ות (lordship, mastery, reign), אסמכת�" (basis, promise, proof, voucher), בר סמכא (authorized, competent, reliable), רשות (control, domain, power, territory), רב� ות (rabbinate, superiority), סמכות (ability, authorization, competence, power, sanction, warrant). (various references)

Hungarian

tekintély (consideration, countenance, credit, headship, potency, prestige, standing), hatalom (ascendancy, empire, force, hank, hold, lever, leverage, lordship, mastership, mastery, might, potency, power, sway), h