noun
Very common
authorities
Authorities (noun) means the official organisations or officials with power to govern or enforce rules in a given area. Example: “Residents asked the authorities to repair the broken streetlights on their road.”
noun
1
The official organisations or officials with power to govern or enforce rules in a given area.
"Residents asked the authorities to repair the broken streetlights on their road."
"Local authorities closed the beach after the storm."
"The authorities are investigating the cause of the fire."
How to use authorities
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe officials or government bodies in charge — the people with the power to enforce rules.
Common pairings
local authorities
the authorities said
notify the authorities
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like authorities.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Residents asked the _____ to repair the broken streetlights on their road.
Synonyms
View more →
officials
the police
government
administration
regulators
officialdom
the powers that be
the establishment
regime
Related words
Rhymes for authorities
See all rhymes for authorities →Frequently asked questions
What does “authorities” mean?
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.
How do you use “authorities” in a sentence?
Here is “authorities” used in a sentence: “Local authorities closed the beach after the storm.”
What part of speech is “authorities”?
“Authorities” is a noun.
Is “authorities” a common word?
“Authorities” is a very common word in modern English.
What is the difference between authorities and authority?
'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.
Who are 'the authorities'?
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.
What is the difference between authorities and the government?
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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include authorities:
