1. (

• authority ,
• authorization ,
• authorisation ,
• potency ,
• dominance ,
• say-so

) 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" ;

2. (

• authority ,

) (usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others; "the authorities have issued a curfew" ;

3. (

• authority

) an expert whose views are taken as definitive; "he is an authority on corporate law" ;

4. (

• assurance ,
• self-assurance ,
• confidence ,
• self-confidence ,
• authority ,
• sureness

) 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" ;

5. (

• agency ,
• federal_agency ,
• government_agency ,
• bureau ,
• office ,
• authority

) an administrative unit of government; "the Central Intelligence Agency"; "the Census Bureau"; "Office of Management and Budget"; "Tennessee Valley Authority" ;

6. (

• authority ,
• authorization ,
• authorisation ,
• sanction

) official permission or approval; "authority for the program was renewed several times" ;

7. (

• authority

) an authoritative written work; "this book is the final authority on the life of Milton" ;