official permission or approval; "authority for the program was renewed several times"
the power or right to give orders or make decisions; "he has the authority to issue warrants"; "deputies are given authorization to make arrests"; "a place of potency in the state"
an authoritative written work; "this book is the final authority on the life of Milton"
an expert whose views are taken as definitive; "he is an authority on corporate law"
(usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others; "the authorities have issued a curfew"
an ability to understand the meaning or importance of something (or the knowledge acquired as a result); "how you can do that is beyond my comprehension"; "he was famous for his comprehension of American literature"