authority in WordNet English dictionary

1. an administrative unit of government
   "the Central Intelligence Agency"; "the Census Bureau"; "Office of Management and Budget"; "Tennessee Valley Authority"
   agency  federal agency  government agency  bureau  office  authority 
   
2. 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"
   assurance  self-assurance  confidence  self-confidence  authority  sureness 
   
3. 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"
   authority  authorization  authorisation  potency  dominance  say-so 
   
4. official permission or approval
   "authority for the program was renewed several times"
   authority  authorization  authorisation  sanction 
   
5. an authoritative written work
   "this book is the final authority on the life of Milton"
   authority 
   
6. an expert whose views are taken as definitive
   "he is an authority on corporate law"
   authority 
   
7. (usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others
   "the authorities have issued a curfew"
   authority