authorities

1. the organization that is the governing authority of a political unitExamples: "the government reduced taxes"; "the matter was referred to higher authorities"Synonyms: authorities, government, regime

2. the power or right to give orders or make decisionsExamples: "he has the authority to issue warrants"; "deputies are given authorization to make arrests"; "a place of potency in the state"Synonyms: authorisation, authority, authorization, dominance, potency, say-so

3. (usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over othersExamples: "the authorities have issued a curfew"Synonyms: authority

4. an expert whose views are taken as definitiveExamples: "he is an authority on corporate law"Synonyms: authority

5. freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilitiesExamples: "his assurance in his superiority did not make him popular"; "after that failure he lost his confidence"; "she spoke with authority"Synonyms: assurance, authority, confidence, self-assurance, self-confidence, sureness

6. an administrative unit of governmentExamples: "the Central Intelligence Agency"; "the Census Bureau"; "Office of Management and Budget"Synonyms: agency, authority, bureau, federal agency, government agency, office