Authority

Word of the day

noun
1 the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience

• [ often with infinitive ] the right to act in a specified way, delegated from one person or organization to another
• official permission; sanction

2 (often authorities) a person or organization having power or control in a particular, typically political or administrative, sphere

New Oxford American Dictionary

the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes;
jurisdiction;
the right to control, command, or determine.

a power or right delegated or given;

a person or body of persons in whom authority is vested, as a governmental agency.

Usually, authorities. persons having the legal power to make and enforce the law; government


Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.

You hold a belief
What gives you the authority to impose that belief on others?

ORIGIN Middle English: from Old French autorite, from Latin auctoritas, from auctor ‘originator, promoter’ (see author) .