authoritative

authoritative

English

Etymology

From authorit(y) +‎ -ative.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɔːˈθɒɹɪˌteɪtɪv/, /ɔːˈθɒɹɪtətɪv/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

  • (proscribed) IPA^(key): /ɔːˈθɒɹɪtɪv/
• (US) IPA^(key): /əˈθɔɹɪˌteɪtɪv/, /əˈθɑɹɪˌteɪtɪv/, /əˈθɔɹɪtətɪv/, /əˈθɑɹɪtətɪv/, /ɔ-/
  • (proscribed) IPA^(key): /əˈθɔɹɪtɪv/, /əˈθɑɹɪtɪv/, /ɔ-/

Adjective

authoritative (comparative more authoritative, superlative most authoritative)

1. Arising or originating from a figure of authority

   The authoritative rules in this school come not from the headmaster but from the aged matron.

2. Highly accurate or definitive; treated or worthy of treatment as a scholarly authority

   This book is the world's most authoritative guide to insect breeding habits.

3. Having a commanding style.

   He instructed us in that booming, authoritative voice of his.

   • 2013 June 29, Leo Montada, “Coping with Life Stress”, in Herman Steensma; Riël Vermunt, editors, Social Justice in Human Relations Volume 2: Societal and Psychological Consequences of Justice and Injustice‎, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 26:

     The fourth model is called the enlightment model: Actors are seen to be responsible for problems but unable or unwilling to provide solutions. They are believed to need discipline provided by authoritative guidance. The Alcoholic Anonymous^[sic] groups are considered prototypical for this model.

Synonyms

• (highly accurate): definitive; precise, proper
• (from a position of authority): of record

Derived terms

• authoritatively
• authoritativeness

Translations

originating from a figure of authority

Bulgarian: авторитарен (bg) (avtoritaren) Chinese: Mandarin: 正式的 (zhèngshì de), 官方的 (guānfāng de), 權威的, 权威的 (quánwēi de), 當局的, 当局的 (dāngjú de) Czech: autoritativní (cs) Finnish: auktoritatiivinen (fi) German: autoritativ (de), offiziell (de) Italian: autorevole (it) Norwegian: myndig Polish: autorytatywny (pl) Portuguese: autoritário (pt) Russian: официа́льный (ru) (oficiálʹnyj) Spanish: autoritativo (es), oficial (es) Ukrainian: авторите́тний (uk) (avtorytétnyj)

accurate or definitive

Bulgarian: авторитетен (bg) (avtoriteten), достоверен (bg) (dostoveren) Chinese: Mandarin: 權威的, 权威的 (quánwēi de), 有權威的, 有权威的 (yǒu quánwēi de), 可信的 (kěxìn de) Czech: autoritativní (cs) Esperanto: aŭtoritata Finnish: auktoritatiivinen (fi) Georgian: ავტორიტეტიანი (avṭoriṭeṭiani), ავტორიტეტული (avṭoriṭeṭuli) German: vorherrschend (de) (of an opinion or view), maßgebend (de) (of a scholarly work or medium), maßgeblich (de) (of someone’s or an institution’s reputation or influence), führend (de) (of an institution, medium, or work), tonangebend (of someone or an institution of authority) Greek: Ancient: αὐθεντικός (authentikós) Italian: autoritario (it) Maori: pūkorero Polish: miarodajny Portuguese: autoritário (pt), autoritativo Russian: авторите́тный (ru) (avtoritétnyj), достове́рный (ru) (dostovérnyj) Spanish: fidedigno (es), autorizado (es) Swedish: auktoritativ (sv) Ukrainian: авторите́тний (uk) (avtorytétnyj)

having a commanding style

Bulgarian: заповеднически (bg) (zapovedničeski) Chinese: Mandarin: 命令式的 (mìnglìng shì de) Czech: autoritářský Finnish: käskevä (fi) German: gebieterisch (de) Norwegian: myndig Polish: autorytatywny (pl) Portuguese: autoritário (pt) Russian: вла́стный (ru) (vlástnyj), повели́тельный (ru) (povelítelʹnyj) (e.g. tone) Spanish: autoritario (es) Swedish: myndig (sv) Ukrainian: авторите́тний (uk) (avtorytétnyj), вла́дний (vládnyj)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

Albanian: (please verify) autoritar (sq)