Tra từ authority - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

au·thor·ity AW [authority authorities] BrE [ɔːˈθɒrəti] NAmE [əˈθɔːrəti] NAmE [əˈθɑːrəti] noun (pl. au·thor·ities)

POWER
1. uncountable the power to give orders to people
•in a position of authority
• She now has authority over the people who used to be her bosses.
• Nothing will be done because no one in authority (= who has a position of power) takes the matter seriously.
2. uncountable ~ (to do sth) the power or right to do sth
• Only the manager has the authority to sign cheques.
• We have the authority to search this building.

PERMISSION
3. uncountable official permission to do sth
• It was done without the principal's authority.
• We acted under the authority of the UN.

ORGANIZATION
4. countable, usually plural the people or an organization who have the power to make decisions or who have a particular area of responsibility in a country or region
• The health authorities are investigating the problem.
• I have to report this to the authorities.
•the immigration authorities
see also ↑local authority

KNOWLEDGE
5. uncountable the power to influence people because they respect your knowledge or official position
• He spoke with authority on the topic.
•the moral authority to run the country

EXPERT
6. countable ~ (on sth) a person with special knowledge
Syn: ↑specialist
• She's an authority on criminal law.
Idiom: ↑have something on good authority

Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French autorite, from Latin auctoritas, from auctor, from augere ‘increase, originate, promote’.

Thesaurus:
authority noun
1. U
•No one in authority takes the matter seriously enough.
power • • control • • command • • rule • |formal jurisdiction •
authority/power/control/command/rule/jurisdiction over sb/sth
be in authority/power/control/command
authority/power/jurisdiction to do sth
2. U
•Only the manager has the authority to sign cheques.
power • • right •
the authority/power/right to do sth
have the authority/power/right
use/exercise your authority/power/rights
Authority or power? (to have) the authority to do sth usually refers to what sb is allowed to do within a company or other organization. The power to do sth or special powers often refer to what sb is allowed to do within the law or government of a country.: ✗ Only the manager has the power to sign cheques.:
•The powers of the police must be clearly defined.
✗ The authority of the police must be clearly defined.
3. U
•The council was accused of selling the land without formal authority.
authorization • • permission • • clearance • • approval • |BrE licence • |AmE license • |formal leave • |informal, especially journalism the go-ahead •
authority/authorization/permission/clearance/approval/a licence for sth
without sb's authority/authorization/permission/leave
have (sb's) authority/authorization/permission/clearance/a licence/leave
receive authorization/permission/clearance/approval
Authority or authorization? Authorization is nearly always permission for a particular action; authority can be more general. Sth can be done under sb's authority but not: ✗ under sb's authorization
4. the authorities pl.
•The authorities are investigating the problem.
the establishment • • bureaucracy • • the system • |BrE the top brass • |AmE the brass • |disapproving officaldom •
the military authorities/establishment/bureaucracy/top brass/brass
the political/medical authorities/establishment/bureaucracy
the local/government/federal/state authorities/bureaucracy

Example Bank:
•Central government has extensive authority over teachers.
•Copernicus justified his innovation by citing respected authorities.
•German authorities arrested the author of the computer virus.
•He acted without any legitimate authority.
•He assumed full authority as tsar in 1689.
•He bore an air of authority.
•He had permission from the proper authorities.
•He refuses to relinquish authority over the design process.
•He took the car without authority.
•I need to talk to someone in authority.
•Immigration authorities refused him entry to the country.
•Parents have the authority to discipline their children.
•She had challenged my authority once too often.
•She holds a position of authority in the local church.
•She's a leading authority on genetics.
•Some legal experts think the agency may have exceeded its authority.
•The commander-in-chief exercises supreme authority within his zone.
•The government is urging education authorities to spend less money.
•The health authority denied negligence.
•The local authority has not granted planning permission.
•The new manager obviously felt the need to demonstrate her authority.
•The system notifies the authorities when a security breach occurs.
•These men denied the divine authority of the Church.
•This can only be done under the authority of the government minister.
•adult authority figures such as parents and teachers
•the right of law enforcement authorities to take and retain photographs
•He has come to be something of a leading authority on the subject.
•Nothing will be done because no one in authority takes the matter seriously.
•She is an authority on early musical instruments.
•She now has authority over the people who used to be her bosses.
•The clause limits the directors' authority to allot shares.
•The government was accused of selling the land without formal authority.
•The minister must answer to Parliament for anything his officials have done under his authority.
•You will need the written authority of the registered owner.