Authority is the power or right to make decisions, give orders, and expect others to follow them. A teacher has authority in the classroom to set rules and assign homework. A police officer has authority to enforce laws. Your parents have authority to make decisions about your bedtime, screen time, and family rules.

Authority comes from different sources. Sometimes it's official: a principal has authority because of their position at school. Sometimes it's earned: a scientist becomes an authority on volcanoes through years of study and research. When someone is described as an authority on a subject, it means they know so much that others trust their expertise and judgment.

Not all authority is the same. A substitute teacher and your regular teacher both have classroom authority, but students often respond differently because one relationship is established while the other is new. Good leaders understand that authority works best when combined with fairness and respect. When someone speaks with authority, their confidence and knowledge make others want to listen.

The word also appears in phrases like “on good authority,” meaning information comes from a reliable source. If you hear something “on the authority of” your teacher, it means your teacher vouches that it’s true. Authority involves both power and having a legitimate reason why others should listen, trust, or follow.