Definition
Having or showing the confident power to make decisions and be obeyed; coming from an official source you can trust.
Etymology
From Latin 'auctoritas' meaning 'power' or 'influence,' derived from 'auctor' (author, creator). The meaning evolved from describing someone with official power to describing the confident way they exercise that power.
Kelly Says
The word 'author' shares the same root as 'authoritative'—both come from the idea of creating or originating something. When someone is authoritative, they speak as if they've written the definitive book on a topic!
Translations
AMአማርኛ
መንግሥት ኃይል
men-g-s-st hay-l
CACatalà
autoritari
aw-toh-ree-ta-ri
CSČeština
autoritativní
aw-toh-ree-ta-tiv-ni
DADansk
autoritativ
aw-toh-ree-ta-tiv
DEDeutsch
autoritär
aw-toh-ree-tair
ELΕλληνικά
αυτοκρατορικός
aw-toh-kra-to-ri-kos
ESEspañol
autoritario
aw-toh-ree-ta-ree-oh
FAفارسی
استبدادی
es-teb-daadi
FISuomi
autoriteetti
aw-toh-ree-tee-ti
FRFrançais
autoritaire
aw-toh-ree-tair
HEעברית
אוטוקרט
aw-toh-kra-t
HIहिन्दी
दुराचारी
doo-ra-cha-ree
HUMagyar
autoritárius
aw-toh-ree-ta-ree-us
IDBahasa Indonesia
otoriter
oh-toh-ree-ter
ITItaliano
autoritario
aw-toh-ree-ta-ree-oh
JA日本語
権威のある
ken'ei-o-naru
KKKK
авторитарлық
aw-toh-ree-ta-rlik
KO한국어
권위 있는
gwon-wi-eun-ten
MSBahasa Melayu
otoriter
oh-toh-ree-ter
NLNederlands
autoritair
aw-toh-ree-tair
NONorsk
autoritativ
aw-toh-ree-ta-tiv
PLPolski
autoritarny
aw-toh-ree-ta-rni
PTPortuguês
autoritário
aw-toh-ree-ta-ree-oh
RORomână
autoritar
aw-toh-ree-ta-r
RUРусский
авторитетный
av-toh-ree-te-tnyy
SVSvenska
autoritär
aw-toh-ree-tair
SWKiswahili
mfalme
m-fal-me
TEతెలుగు
రాజకీయ
raaj-kee-ya
THไทย
เผด็จการ
phe-d-chet-gaan
TLTL
autoritario
aw-toh-ree-ta-ree-oh
TRTürkçe
otoriter
oh-toh-ree-ter
UKУкраїнська
авторитетний
av-toh-ree-te-tnyy
VITiếng Việt
độc tài
dhok-tai
YOYO
awon-okan
aw-on-o-kan
ZUZU
umshayeli
oom-sha-ye-li
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
When applied to women, often coded negatively as 'bossy' or 'domineering'; same behavior in men is 'leadership' or 'confidence.' Authority itself is gendered.
Inclusive Usage
Use consistently: authority is neutral. Apply same standard to all genders. If criticism arises, specify the actual behavioral concern.
Inclusive Alternatives
["credible","knowledgeable","commanding"]
Empowerment Note
Women's authority has been historically delegitimized; reclaim this word as applicable across all genders equally.