authority
au·thor·i·ty / əˈ[unvoicedth]ôritē; ôˈ[unvoicedth]är-/ (abbr.: auth.) • n. (pl. -ties) 1. the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience: he had absolute authority over his subordinates. ∎ the right to act in a specified way, delegated from one person or organization to another: military forces have the legal authority to arrest drug traffickers. ∎ official permission; sanction: the money was spent without congressional authority.2. (often authorities) a person or organization having power or control in a particular, typically political or administrative, sphere: the health authorities the Chicago Transit Authority.3. the power to influence others, esp. because of one's commanding manner or one's recognized knowledge about something: he spoke with authority on the subject. ∎ the confidence resulting from personal expertise: he hit the ball with authority. ∎ a person with extensive or specialized knowledge about a subject; an expert: she was an authority on the stockmarket. ∎ a book or other source able to supply reliable information or evidence, typically to settle a dispute: the court cited a series of authorities supporting their decision.PHRASES: have something on good authority have ascertained something from a reliable source: I have it on good authority that there is a waiting list.