English · Word Candidate

authority

/ɔːˈθɒɹəti/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: authorities

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Power or right to make or enforce rules, give orders, or impose obligation; or a position having such power or right.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Quyền lực hoặc quyền tạo hoặc thực thi quy tắc

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

I have the authority to penalise the staff in my department, but not the authority to sack them.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Persons, regarded collectively, who occupy official positions of power; police or law enforcement.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Những người nắm giữ vị trí quyền lực chính thức

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Authorities say the suspect fled on foot.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

What does “authority” mean?

Power or right to make or enforce rules, give orders, or impose obligation; or a position having such power or right.

Is “authority” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.