authority

au|thor|i|ty [ ɔ`θɔrəti ] noun ***

▸ 1 power to make decisions

▸ 2 people with power

▸ 3 organization/institution

▸ 4 expert in subject

▸ 5 official permission

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) uncount the power to make decisions or tell people what to do:

In practice it is difficult for the President to exercise his authority.

have the authority to do something: They don't have the authority to close the canal.

authority over: Parents have legal authority over their children.

a ) the power to influence other people because they respect your opinions or knowledge:

with authority: It is a subject on which she can write with authority.

b ) the power to make other people obey you because of a quality in the way you speak or behave:

There was a tone of authority in her voice.

2. ) the authorities plural the police or people in other official organizations with legal power to make people obey laws or rules:

The girl told the authorities that she had been kidnapped from her home.

The French authorities have refused to issue him a visa.

3. ) count an organization or institution that controls something, often a public service:

the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

The rules are set by the city transit authority.

4. ) count someone who is considered an expert in a particular subject:

authority on: Charles was an authority on antique musical instruments.

a ) a book or information that people respect because it contains a great deal of knowledge about a particular subject:

authority on: The book is widely acknowledged to be the authority on regional expressions.

5. ) uncount FORMAL official permission to do something:

He believed he had authority to ride the bike.

I have it on good authority (that)

used for saying that your information comes from someone you trust