French word

autorité

Pronunciation

IPA/otoʁite/

Meaning

  • feminine nounauthority

Example

L'autorité a fermé la route après l'accident.

The authorities closed the road after the accident.

Illustration for autorité (authority)

More examples

Les autorités sanitaires ont recommandé de rester chez soi.

The health authorities recommended staying at home.

Core concept

A voice or institution that makes a directive carry weight, through official power or earned respect.

Common phrases

  • les autorités locales

    local authorities

  • contacter les autorités

    contact the authorities

  • les autorités compétentes

    the competent authorities

Similar words

pouvoir: The power or authority to make decisions and influence events.
gouvernement: The organization that governs a country or region and sets its policies.
administration: The organization that manages public services, procedures, and administrative affairs.
police: The public organization responsible for maintaining order and responding to incidents.

Definition in French

Autorité désigne la capacité d'une personne ou d'une institution à imposer le respect et à faire appliquer ses directives, que ce soit par pouvoir légal ou par prestige moral.

Word origin

The French noun developed from Latin auctoritas through Old French, with the Latin root auctor referring to an originator, creator, or validating figure.

Usage tips

  • For a person, avoir de l'autorité means commanding respect, while avoir l'autorité de faire quelque chose means having the power or authorization to do it.

Other meanings

  • prestigenoun
  • powernoun

Opposites

  • anarchieanarchynoun

Related words

Word lists with this word