authorityau·thor·i·ty /ɔːˈθɒrəti, ə-əˈθɑː-, əˈθɔː-/ noun (plural authorities) → health authority → local authority → port authority2the authorities [plural] the organizations that are in charge of a particular country or area or a particular activityThe weak currency could force the authorities to raise interest rates.
3[uncountableU] the power that a person or organization has because of their official or legal positionthe authority to do somethingI wouldn’t have taken the job unless I had the authority to run the division.
The bankruptcy court lacked the authority to rule on this subject.
5authority to payBANKING the power given by an importer to a bank in the exporter’s country to pay a BILL OF EXCHANGE