authority
noun OPAL W
/ɔːˈθɒrəti/
/əˈθɔːrəti/
(plural authorities)
Idioms - in a position of authority
- to undermine/challenge somebody's authority
- authority over somebody/something She now has authority over the people who used to be her bosses.
- The law states that parents exercise authority over their children.
- in authority Nothing will be done because no one in authority (= who has a position of power) takes the matter seriously.
- adult authority figures such as parents and teachers
Extra Examples- Central government has extensive authority over teachers.
- He assumed full authority as tsar in 1689.
- He refuses to relinquish authority over the design process.
- She had challenged my authority once too often.
- She holds a position of authority in the local church.
- The commander-in-chief exercises supreme authority within his zone.
- The new manager obviously felt the need to demonstrate her authority.
- These men denied the divine authority of the Church.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- absolute
- complete
- full
- …
- have
- possess
- assume
- …
- figure
- in authority
- under the authority of
- without authority
- …
- an air of authority
- a position of authority
- Some experts think the agency may have exceeded its authority.
- authority to do something The government has the authority to regulate the economy.
- The Constitution gives Congress the authority to decide whether to fund military action.
- We have the authority to search this building.
Extra Examples- Only the Board has the authority to approve the budget.
- Parents have the authority to discipline their children.
- The clause limits the directors' authority to allot shares.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- absolute
- complete
- full
- …
- have
- possess
- assume
- …
- figure
- in authority
- under the authority of
- without authority
- …
- an air of authority
- a position of authority
- without authority He took the car without authority.
- without somebody's authority It was done without the principal's authority.
- under the authority of somebody/something We acted under the authority of the UN.
Extra Examples- The government was accused of selling the land without formal authority.
- You will need the written authority of the registered owner.
- The minister must answer to Parliament for anything his officials have done under his authority.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- absolute
- complete
- full
- …
- have
- possess
- assume
- …
- figure
- in authority
- under the authority of
- without authority
- …
- an air of authority
- a position of authority
- I have to report this to the authorities.
- The health authorities are investigating the problem.
- planning/police/immigration authorities
- Aviation authorities say traffic will grow 20 per cent a year.
- German authorities arrested the author of the computer virus.
Extra ExamplesTopics Law and justiceb2- He had permission from the proper authorities.
- The government is urging education authorities to spend less money.
- The local authority has not granted planning permission.
- The system notifies the authorities when a security breach occurs.
- the right of law enforcement authorities to take and retain photographs
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- central
- district
- federal
- …
- alert
- contact
- inform
- …
- agree something
- claim something
- decide something
- …
- with authority He spoke with authority on the topic.
- authority to do something the moral authority to run the country
- She bore an air of authority.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- absolute
- complete
- full
- …
- have
- possess
- assume
- …
- figure
- in authority
- under the authority of
- without authority
- …
- an air of authority
- a position of authority
- [countable] authority (on something) a person with special knowledge synonym specialist
- She's an authority on criminal law.
Extra Examples- Copernicus justified his innovation by citing respected authorities.
- He has come to be something of a leading authority on the subject.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- foremost
- leading
- respected
- …
- cite
- invoke
- authority on
power
permission
organization
knowledge
expert
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French autorite, from Latin auctoritas, from auctor, from augere ‘increase, originate, promote’.
Idioms
have something on good authority
- to be able to believe something because you trust the person who gave you the information
- I have it on good authority that he is going to be promoted.