Authority

Noun

1. Power or right to make or enforce rules, give orders, or impose obligation; or a position having such power or right.

   "I have the authority to penalise the staff in my department, but not the authority to sack them."

2. Persons, regarded collectively, who occupy official positions of power; police or law enforcement.

   "Authorities say the suspect fled on foot."

3. A reliable, definitive source of information on a subject.

   "the world's foremost authority on orangutans"

4. Status as a trustworthy source of information, reputation for mastery or expertise; or claim to such status or reputation.

   "Due to being inadequate for the deductive method of reasoning, the argument from authority is considered a logical fallacy."

5. Official permission; authorisation to act in some capacity on behalf of a ruling entity.