authoritative

authoritative — adjective

1. behaving with the calm certainty of someone used to being in charge, so that oth

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

behaving with the calm certainty of someone used to being in charge, so that other people naturally listen and do what you say.

Example

The new principal spoke in a calm, authoritative voice that quieted the noisy hallway at once.

authoritative + voice describing manner of speaking

Captain Reyes gave the crew an authoritative nod, and they moved into position without a single question.

authoritative + nod / gesture

Common collocations
  • authoritative voice
  • authoritative tone
  • authoritative manner
  • authoritative presence
  • speak with authority
Synonyms
  • commanding

    stresses the visible power to make people listen; slightly more theatrical.

  • assertive

    focuses on standing up for your views; not necessarily senior in rank.

  • self-assured

    calm confidence in oneself; does not require power over others.

Antonyms
  • hesitant

    showing doubt instead of certainty when speaking or acting.

  • meek

    quietly giving in to others rather than expecting to be obeyed.

Grammar Patterns

authoritative + noun (voice, tone, manner, presence)

Usage Note

Subject is usually a person or a feature of how they speak or act (voice, tone, manner, nod, presence). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense describes HOW someone behaves, not WHAT a book or document contains.

Common Mistakes

The teacher is authoritative about the new rules.
The teacher has an authoritative manner when explaining the new rules.
'authoritative' modifies the person or their style, not what they are 'about'.
authoritarian voice' (when meaning calmly in control).
authoritative voice'.
'authoritarian' suggests harsh, oppressive control; 'authoritative' is positive and respected.

2. (of a book, study, expert, or piece of information) so thorough and reliable on

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

(of a book, study, expert, or piece of information) so thorough and reliable on its subject that scholars and readers treat it as the standard work to consult.

Example

Professor Mira's biography of Beethoven is widely seen as the most authoritative account of the composer's life.

authoritative + account / biography

Before booking the trip, Diego checked an authoritative travel guide for safety advice on hiking the volcano.

authoritative + guide as a trusted reference

Common collocations
  • authoritative source
  • authoritative account
  • authoritative study
  • authoritative guide
  • the most authoritative work on
Synonyms
  • definitive

    treated as the final word on the subject, leaving little room for further versions.

  • reliable

    more general; means information you can trust, but not necessarily the leading source.

  • scholarly

    stresses careful academic research; may be authoritative without being widely known.

Antonyms
  • unreliable

    cannot be trusted to give correct information.

  • anecdotal

    based on personal stories rather than thorough evidence.

Grammar Patterns

authoritative + noun (source, account, study, guide, biography)

Usage Note

Subject is usually a written or recorded work, an organisation, or an expert recognised in their field. Distinguish from sense 1 (about manner): this sense is about being trustworthy as a source of facts. Often used with the superlative ('the most authoritative...').

Common Mistakes

This blog post is authoritative because the writer feels strongly about the topic.
This blog post is opinionated, not authoritative
it is not based on careful research.' — being confident is not the same as being a trusted, well-researched source.
an authoritative news
an authoritative news source' / 'authoritative reporting
'news' is uncountable; the adjective usually attaches to a countable head noun like 'source' or 'report'.

Word family

  • authority
    nounB2
  • authorities
    nounB2
  • authorize
    verbC1
  • authorization
    nounC1
  • authoritatively
    adverbC1
  • authoritarian
    adjectiveC1
  • authoritarianism
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

All four words describe information you can trust, but they differ in scope. 'Reliable' is the broadest and most everyday: a reliable witness or a reliable weather app simply gives correct information most of the time. 'Credible' focuses on whether something sounds believable to a careful listener — a credible explanation has no obvious holes, but it may still turn out to be wrong. 'Authoritative' is stronger: it suggests deep knowledge of a subject and recognition by experts, so the source becomes the one people consult first. 'Definitive' goes one step further, meaning so complete that no later work is expected to replace it. So a news report can be reliable; a witness statement can be credible; a textbook by a leading scientist is authoritative; a 2,000-page biography after fifty years of research is definitive.

authoritative ↗definitive ↗reliable ↗credible ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • highly authoritative
  • calmly authoritative
  • quietly authoritative
  • genuinely authoritative

Phrases

  • the most authoritative work on
  • speak in an authoritative voice
  • an authoritative source of information

Prepositions

  • authoritative on (a subject)
  • authoritative about (a topic, less common)

Etymology

LatinMedieval LatinMiddle FrenchEnglish

The word reaches English through medieval Latin 'auctoritativus', formed from Latin 'auctoritas' meaning influence, command, or the right to give orders. 'Auctoritas' itself comes from 'auctor' — an originator, founder, or person whose opinion carries weight. English borrowed the adjective in the late 1500s, first to describe rulings and writings that came from a recognised authority, and later widening to people whose manner shows they expect to be obeyed.