1. the power or right to give orders and enforce rules
權力；管轄權
The principal has the authority to suspend students.
校長有權力讓學生停學。
He has no authority over the marketing department.
他對市場行銷部門沒有管轄權。
Authority Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
authority
noun
快速理解
What does "Authority" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Authority"?
指擁有權力、知識或官方地位，能讓人服從或信任的人或機構。
- 1
官方權力
EN: The power to give orders and make decisions.
翻譯: 下達命令和做出決定的權力。
- 2
權威人士/機構
EN: A person or organization with official power or control.
翻譯: 擁有官方權力或控制權的人或組織。
- 3
專業知識
EN: Expert knowledge or a reliable source of information.
翻譯: 專業知識或可靠的資訊來源。
- 4
許可/授權
EN: Official permission or authorization to do something.
翻譯: 做某事的官方許可或授權。
小提醒：注意 "authority" 可以是可數名詞（指人或機構），也可以是不可數名詞（指權力或知識本身）。例如 "an authority on history"（歷史權威）和 "speak with authority"（以權威口吻說話）。
發音（How to Pronounce "Authority" in English）
How to pronounce "Authority" in English?"Authority" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Authority" from YouTube Videos
UK tells Israel not to retaliate as France set to recognise Palestinian state | BBC News
BBC News
“Palestinian authority is losing control of most of the refugee camp in the West Bank.”
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Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Authority"?How does "Authority" change by context?
2. an official organization or government department with control in a specific area
當局；官方機構
You need to report the incident to the local authorities.
你需要向地方當局報告這起事件。
The health authority issued new safety guidelines.
衛生主管機關發布了新的安全指引。
3. a person with expert knowledge whose opinions are respected
權威；專家
She is a leading authority on ancient Roman history.
她是古羅馬歷史方面的頂尖權威。
I wouldn't consider him an authority on climate science.
我不認為他是氣候科學方面的專家。
4. a quality of confidence and knowledge that commands respect
威信；權威感
He spoke with such authority that everyone listened.
他說話帶著一種令人信服的權威感，大家都仔細聆聽。
The book lacks authority on the subject.
這本書在這個主題上缺乏權威性。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Authority"?How to make natural sentences with "Authority"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| authority + on + noun | 在…方面的權威 | He is a leading authority on ancient Roman history. (他是古羅馬歷史方面的權威專家。) |
| authority + over + noun | 對…的管轄權、控制權 | Parents have legal authority over their children. (父母對子女擁有法律上的監護權。) |
| under the authority of + noun | 在…的管轄/授權之下 | The committee operates under the authority of the university president. (該委員會在大學校長的授權下運作。) |
| have the authority to + V | 有權力做… | The manager has the authority to approve these expenses. (經理有權核准這些開支。) |
| exercise/assert one's authority | 行使/主張自己的權威 | The new CEO quickly asserted her authority. (新任執行長迅速主張了她的權威。) |
| an authority figure | 權威人物 | Many children rebel against authority figures during adolescence. (許多青少年在青春期會反抗權威人物。) |
| in a position of authority | 處於權威職位 | She is now in a position of authority and can implement changes. (她現在身居要職，可以推行改革。) |
用法說明
How is "Authority" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Authority"?
authority doing vs authority to do
- authority doing 通常描述一個機構或人物「正在行使權力或進行管理」的狀態或事實，強調的是權威的「行動」本身。
- authority to do 則表示「有權力去做某事」的「資格」或「授權」，強調的是法律或規則賦予的「權限」。
- 當談論一個機構的日常運作或職能時，常用 authority doing 的形式。
- 當談論某人或某機構被授予的具體權力範圍時，則用 authority to do 的形式。 EN: The local authority is reviewing the new building plans. 翻譯: 地方當局正在審核新的建築計畫。
EN:The committee has the authority to approve the budget.
翻譯:該委員會有權批准預算。
EN:The regulatory authority investigating the incident is very thorough.
翻譯:正在調查此事件的監管機構非常徹底。
EN:She was given the authority to sign contracts on behalf of the company.
翻譯:她被授予代表公司簽署合約的權力。
總結建議
在描述權威「正在進行」的動作時用 authority doing，而在說明被授予「去做某事」的權限時則用 authority to do。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Authority" and similar words?How to choose "Authority" vs alternatives?
authority vs power
「authority」強調的是被授予或認可的正式權力或職權，通常與職位、法律或專業知識相關；「power」則泛指影響、控制或做事的能力，範圍更廣，可能包含非正式的影響力或實際力量。
authority vs control
「authority」指的是行使權力的正當權利或資格；「control」則強調實際的指揮、管理或支配行為與過程。
authority vs expert
「authority」可指權力機構或權威人士，強調其決定性或官方性；「expert」則專指在某領域擁有高超知識或技能的專家，強調其專業性。
口語用法
How is "Authority" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Authority"?
引述
在對話中，當引述或轉述他人的話語、規則或指令時，常用 "authority" 來指稱來源。 EN: She said it with the full authority of the management team behind her. 翻譯: 她說這話時，背後有整個管理團隊的全力支持。
EN:According to the authority of the user manual, you shouldn't mix these chemicals.
翻譯:根據使用手冊的權威說法，你不應該混合這些化學品。
語氣強調
在口語中，有時會用 "authority" 來強調說話者對某事的確信或專業知識，以增加說服力。 EN: I can say with some authority that this method works, I've used it for years. 翻譯: 我可以很有把握地說這個方法有效，我已經用了好幾年了。
EN:He spoke with real authority on the history of the region.
翻譯:他談論這個地區的歷史時，顯得非常有見地。
停頓填充
在較為隨意的對話中，有時會用 "the authorities" 作為一個概括性的詞，來填補思考停頓或指代一個不具體的官方機構。 EN: If you're not sure, maybe you should check with... you know, the authorities. 翻譯: 如果你不確定，也許你應該去問問... 你知道的，相關單位。
EN:Well, the authorities haven't made a decision on that yet.
翻譯:嗯，主管機關對那件事還沒做出決定。
注意：在正式寫作中，應避免使用 "the authorities" 這種模糊的指代，應具體說明是哪個機構或部門（例如：the city council, the Department of Health）。口語中用以填充停頓的用法（如 "you know, the authorities"）也不適用於正式文體。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Authority"?What fixed phrases with "Authority" should I remember?
an authority on
an authority on [subject]
在…領域的權威
in authority
in authority
掌權的；有權威的
have authority over
have authority over [person/area]
對…有管轄權/控制權
abuse of authority
abuse of authority
濫用職權
local authority
local authority
地方當局；地方政府
challenge authority
challenge (the) authority
挑戰權威
speak with authority
speak with authority
以權威的口吻說話；說話有說服力
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Authority"?Which "Authority" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×He is an authority of ancient history.
✓He is an authority on ancient history.
使用 'authority on' 來表示在某個特定領域或主題上的權威，而不是 'authority of'。
×The teacher has the authority to let us leave early.
✓The teacher has the authority to let us leave early.
原句文法正確，但常見錯誤是將 'authority'（權力/權威）與 'permission'（許可）混淆。'Authority' 指正式的權力或管轄權，而 'permission' 是允許做某事的同意。
×We should respect the authority.
✓We should respect authority. / We should respect the authorities.
當泛指『權威』這個概念或體制時，使用不可數名詞 'authority'（不加冠詞）。當指具體的『當局、官方機構』時，使用複數可數名詞 'the authorities'。原句的 'the authority' 單數形式通常用於指某個特定的權力來源或人。
×She spoke with a lot of authorities.
✓She spoke with great authority.
這裡想表達的是『她說話很有權威感/信服力』，這是指一種特質或方式，應使用不可數名詞 'authority'，並用形容詞如 'great' 修飾，而不是使用可數的複數形式 'authorities'（當局）。
×He has no authority over his own decisions.
✓He has no control over his own decisions. / He has no authority to make his own decisions.
'Authority over' 通常指對他人或他事的管轄權。對自己的決定，更常見的說法是 'control over' 或使用 'authority to' 表示做某事的權力。原句搭配不自然。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Authority"?What are tense/participle forms of "Authority"?