authorities

The word “authorities” means the official organisations or officials with power to govern or enforce rules in a given area. In plain terms, the officials or government bodies in charge — the people with the power to enforce rules.

Here is “authorities” used in a sentence: “Local authorities closed the beach after the storm.”

“Authorities” is a noun.

“Authorities” is a very common word in modern English.

'Authority' in the singular usually means the power or right to give orders, or an expert on a subject. 'Authorities' in the plural normally means the officials and organisations that hold that power — the police, councils and government bodies. So 'the authorities are investigating' refers to the people in charge, not to power itself.

The phrase covers whichever official bodies hold power in a given place — typically the police, local councils, government departments and regulators. Which ones are meant depends on the situation: for a crime it may be the police, for a health matter a public health agency. They share the power to govern or enforce rules.

The government is the central body that runs a country and makes its laws. 'Authorities' is broader, covering the whole range of official bodies that apply and enforce those laws — police, local councils, regulators and agencies. The government is part of the authorities, but the authorities include many organisations beyond it.