Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions
Trivia Time
Which 19th-century publication became an authority in the field of medicine?

authority

[uh-thawr-i-tee, uh-thor-] / Ι™ΛˆΞΈΙ”r Ιͺ ti, Ι™ΛˆΞΈΙ’r- /




Usage

What are other ways to say authority? Authority is a power or right, usually because of rank or office, to issue commands and to punish for violations: to have authority over subordinates. Control is either power or influence applied to the complete and successful direction or manipulation of persons or things: to be in control of a project. Influence is a personal and unofficial power derived from deference of others to one's character, ability, or station; it may be exerted unconsciously or may operate through persuasion: to have influence over one's friends.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The 2023 Alexandria Document was an important step toward a joint understanding of papal authority, though not all Orthodox churches ratified the statement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

When he does make contact, it isn’t with much authority.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

I also put to him Samira's experience, in which she says an officer told her that he had no authority to stop harassment.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

"It was extremely upsetting... I saw a police car. I went over and told them what had happened. They said they didn't have the authority to do anything."

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

“I have it on good authority that it tastes like chicken, but as I’ve never had chicken before, I can’t really say how true that is.”

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston

A search and rescue operation for the eight missing members of the Wine Trader continues, Romania's authorities have said.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

ICE, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, has defended its arrests near courthouses as a “common sense” approach to apprehending offenders at times and locations where authorities know they will be.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

The death toll from the floods rose to three when authorities found a man's body near a park in the Kagithane area on the European side, Gul's office said in a statement.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

In Ethiopia, which is finalizing a Covid-era debt restructuring, cars are being turned away at gas stations as authorities preserve limited fuel for transport and agriculture vehicles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Obviously the M.D. didn’t stand for Medical Doctor, but sometimes the authorities thought it did and Chase’s father didn’t correct them.

From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith


Vocabulary lists containing authority

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training