{ "term": "authority", "partOfSpeech": "noun", "academic": true, "ox3000": true, "cefr": "b1", "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "the power to give orders to people", "sensetop": "authority over somebody/somethingin authority", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "in a **position of authority**" }, { "text": "to undermine/challenge somebody's authority" }, { "text": "She now **has authority** over the people who used to be her bosses.", "contextForm": "authority over somebody/something" }, { "text": "The law states that parents **exercise authority** over their children." }, { "text": "Nothing will be done because no one in authority *(= who has a position of power)* takes the matter seriously.", "contextForm": "in authority" }, { "text": "adult **authority figures** such as parents and teachers" }, { "text": "Central government has extensive authority over teachers." }, { "text": "He assumed full authority as tsar in 1689." }, { "text": "He refuses to relinquish authority over the design process." }, { "text": "She had challenged my authority once too often." }, { "text": "She holds a position of authority in the local church." }, { "text": "The commander-in-chief exercises supreme authority within his zone." }, { "text": "The new manager obviously felt the need to demonstrate her authority." }, { "text": "These men denied the divine authority of the Church." } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["absolute", "complete", "full"], "verb + authority": ["have", "possess", "assume"], "authority + noun": ["figure"], "preposition": [ "in authority", "under the authority of", "without authority" ], "phrases": ["an air of authority", "a position of authority"] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "the power or right to do something", "sensetop": "authority to do something", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Some experts think the agency may have exceeded its authority." }, { "text": "The government **has the authority** to regulate the economy.", "contextForm": "authority to do something" }, { "text": "The Constitution gives Congress the authority to decide whether to fund military action." }, { "text": "We have the authority to search this building." }, { "text": "Only the Board has the authority to approve the budget." }, { "text": "Parents have the authority to discipline their children." }, { "text": "The clause limits the directors' authority to allot shares." } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["absolute", "complete", "full"], "verb + authority": ["have", "possess", "assume"], "authority + noun": ["figure"], "preposition": [ "in authority", "under the authority of", "without authority" ], "phrases": ["an air of authority", "a position of authority"] } }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "official permission to do something", "sensetop": "without authoritywithout somebody's authorityunder the authority of somebody/something", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "He took the car **without authority**.", "contextForm": "without authority" }, { "text": "It was done without the principal's authority.", "contextForm": "without somebody's authority" }, { "text": "We acted under the authority of the UN.", "contextForm": "under the authority of somebody/something" }, { "text": "The government was accused of selling the land without formal authority." }, { "text": "You will need the written authority of the registered owner." }, { "text": "The minister must answer to Parliament for anything his officials have done under his authority." } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["absolute", "complete", "full"], "verb + authority": ["have", "possess", "assume"], "authority + noun": ["figure"], "preposition": [ "in authority", "under the authority of", "without authority" ], "phrases": ["an air of authority", "a position of authority"] } }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "the people or an organization who have the power to make decisions or who have a particular area of responsibility in a country or region", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "I have to report this to the authorities." }, { "text": "The health authorities are investigating the problem." }, { "text": "planning/police/immigration authorities" }, { "text": "Aviation authorities say traffic will grow 20 per cent a year." }, { "text": "German authorities arrested the author of the computer virus." }, { "text": "He had permission from the proper authorities." }, { "text": "The government is urging education authorities to spend less money." }, { "text": "The local authority has not granted planning permission." }, { "text": "The system notifies the authorities when a security breach occurs." }, { "text": "the right of law enforcement authorities to take and retain photographs" } ], "topics": ["Law and justice"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["central", "district", "federal"], "verb + authority": ["alert", "contact", "inform"], "authority + verb": [ "agree something", "claim something", "decide something" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "the power to influence people because they respect your knowledge or official position", "sensetop": "with authorityauthority to do something", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "He spoke with authority on the topic.", "contextForm": "with authority" }, { "text": "the **moral authority** to run the country", "contextForm": "authority to do something" }, { "text": "She bore an air of authority." } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["absolute", "complete", "full"], "verb + authority": ["have", "possess", "assume"], "authority + noun": ["figure"], "preposition": [ "in authority", "under the authority of", "without authority" ], "phrases": ["an air of authority", "a position of authority"] } }, { "senseNumber": 6, "definition": "a person with special knowledge", "sensetop": "authority (on something)", "examples": [ { "text": "She's an authority on criminal law." }, { "text": "Copernicus justified his innovation by citing respected authorities." }, { "text": "He has come to be something of a leading authority on the subject." } ], "synonyms": "specialist", "collocations": { "adjective": ["foremost", "leading", "respected"], "verb + authority": ["cite", "invoke"], "preposition": ["authority on"] } }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be able to believe something because you trust the person who gave you the information", "examples": [ { "text": "I have it on good authority that he is going to be promoted." } ] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/ɔːˈθɒrəti/", "audio": "au/authority/authority__gb_3.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/əˈθɔːrəti/", "audio": "au/authority/authority__us_1_rr.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French autorite, from Latin auctoritas, from auctor, from augere ‘increase, originate, promote’." }