the power or right to give orders or make decisions
"he has the authority to issue warrants"
"deputies are given authorization to make arrests"
"a place of potency in the state"
(usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others
"the authorities have issued a curfew"
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
"his assurance in his superiority did not make him popular"
"after that failure he lost his confidence"
"she spoke with authority"
an administrative unit of government
"the Central Intelligence Agency"
"the Census Bureau"
"Office of Management and Budget"
"Tennessee Valley Authority"
official permission or approval
"authority for the program was renewed several times"
The power to enforce rules or give orders.
"The new manager's authority allowed her to immediately halt production when safety protocols were violated."
In plain English: Authority is the official power to give orders, make decisions, and enforce rules.
"The police officer showed his badge to prove his authority in the situation."
Usage: Use authority to describe the legitimate power someone has to make decisions, enforce rules, or issue commands within a specific group or organization. It applies both to abstract concepts like legal jurisdiction and concrete instances where a person gives binding instructions.
The word authority comes from the Latin auctor, meaning "master" or "leader," and originally referred to an invention, advice, or opinion that settled an argument. It entered English via Old French as a term for a book or quotation used to resolve disputes before evolving into its modern sense of power or command.