authorities Definition
- 1the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.
- 2a person or organization having official power in a particular area.
Using authorities: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "authorities" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.
Example
The local authorities have issued a warning about the storm.
Example
The authorities have arrested several suspects in connection with the robbery.
authorities Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for authorities
- government
- administration
- leadership
- officials
Phrases with authorities
the people or organizations that have official power in a particular area
Example
The authorities have not yet released any information about the accident.
Example
The manager is the person in authority in this office.
Example
The students decided to challenge the authority of the school administration.
Origins of authorities
from Old French 'autorité', from Latin 'auctoritas', from 'auctor' meaning 'originator'
Summary: authorities in Brief
The term 'authorities' [əˈθɒrətiz] refers to the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. It can also refer to a person or organization having official power in a particular area. Examples include 'The authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.' and 'The local authorities have issued a warning about the storm.' Phrases like 'in authority' and 'challenge authority' use 'authority' to denote official power or control.