# authority

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɔːˈθɒɹəti/ · frequency rank #1,625

## Definitions
1. Power or right to make or enforce rules, give orders, or impose obligation; or a position having such power or right.
2. Persons, regarded collectively, who occupy official positions of power; police or law enforcement.
3. A reliable, definitive source of information on a subject.
4. Status as a trustworthy source of information, reputation for mastery or expertise; or claim to such status or reputation.
5. Official permission; authorisation to act in some capacity on behalf of a ruling entity.
6. A government-owned agency that runs a revenue-generating activity for public benefit.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂weg-
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewg-der.
Proto-Italic *augeō
Latin augeō
Proto-Indo-European *-tōr
Proto-Italic *-tōr
Latin -tor
Latin auctor
Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-ts
Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ts
Proto-Italic *-tāts
Latin -tās
Latin auctōritāsbor.
Old French autoritébor.
Middle English auctorite
English authority
From Middle English auctorite, autorite (“authority, book or quotation that settles an argument”), from Old French auctorité, from Latin stem of auctōritās (“invention, advice, opinion, influence, command”), from auctor (“master, leader, author”). For the presence of the h, compare the etymology of author.

## Easily confused with
- **authorize** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/authority-vs-authorize)
- **authorise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/authorise-vs-authority)

## Common misspellings (13)
`atuhority`, `auhtority`, `authhority`, `authoirty`, `authoritty`, `authorityy`, `authoriyt`, `authorrity`, `authortiy`, `authroity`, `autohrity`, `autthority`, `uathority`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/authority