authorities

au·thor·i·ty  (-thôr-t, -thr-, ô-thôr-, ô-thr-)

n. pl. au·thor·i·ties

1.

a. The power to enforce laws, exact obedience, command, determine, or judge.

b. One that is invested with this power, especially a government or body of government officials: land titles issued by the civil authority.

2. Power assigned to another; authorization: Deputies were given authority to make arrests.

3. A public agency or corporation with administrative powers in a specified field: a city transit authority.

4.

a. An accepted source of expert information or advice: a noted authority on birds; a reference book often cited as an authority.

b. A quotation or citation from such a source: biblical authorities for a moral argument.

5. Justification; grounds: On what authority do you make such a claim?

6. A conclusive statement or decision that may be taken as a guide or precedent.

7. Power to influence or persuade resulting from knowledge or experience: political observers who acquire authority with age.

8. Confidence derived from experience or practice; firm self-assurance: played the sonata with authority.

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[Middle English auctorite, from Old French autorite, from Latin auctrits, auctritt-, from auctor, creator; see author.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

authorities - the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit; "the government reduced taxes"; "the matter was referred to higher authorities" government, regime governing, government activity, government, governance, administration - the act of governing; exercising authority; "regulations for the governing of state prisons"; "he had considerable experience of government" polity - a politically organized unit authoritarian regime, authoritarian state - a government that concentrates political power in an authority not responsible to the people bureaucracy - a government that is administered primarily by bureaus that are staffed with nonelective officials ancien regime - a political and social system that no longer governs (especially the system that existed in France before the French Revolution) royal court, court - the sovereign and his advisers who are the governing power of a state Downing Street - the British government empire - a group of countries under a single authority; "the British created a great empire" federal government - a government with strong central powers government-in-exile - a temporary government moved to or formed in a foreign land by exiles who hope to rule when their country is liberated local government - the government of a local area military government, stratocracy - government by the military and an army palace - the governing group of a kingdom; "the palace issued an order binding on all subjects" papacy, pontificate - the government of the Roman Catholic Church government department - a department of government law-makers, legislative assembly, legislative body, legislature, general assembly - persons who make or amend or repeal laws governance, governing body, organisation, administration, brass, establishment, organization - the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something; "he claims that the present administration is corrupt"; "the governance of an association is responsible to its members"; "he quickly became recognized as a member of the establishment" executive - persons who administer the law judiciary, bench - persons who administer justice judicatory, judicial system, judiciary, judicature - the system of law courts that administer justice and constitute the judicial branch of government pupet regime, puppet government, puppet state - a government that is appointed by and whose affairs are directed by an outside authority that may impose hardships on those governed state - the group of people comprising the government of a sovereign state; "the state has lowered its income tax" division - an administrative unit in government or business state government - the government of a state in the United States totalitarian state, totalitation regime - a government that subordinates the individual to the state and strictly controls all aspects of life by coercive measures government officials, officialdom - people elected or appointed to administer a government