authoritative

English

Etymology

From authorit(y) +‎ -ative.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɔːˈθɒɹɪtətɪv/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

  • (proscribed) IPA^(key): /ɔːˈθɒɹɪtɪv/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /əˈθɔɹɪˌteɪtɪv/, /əˈθɑɹɪˌteɪtɪv/, /ɔ-/
  • (proscribed) IPA^(key): /əˈθɔɹɪtɪv/, /əˈθɑɹɪtɪv/, /ɔ-/

Adjective

authoritative (comparative more authoritative, superlative most authoritative)

1. Arising or originating from a figure of authority.

   Synonyms: formal, proper

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

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

   Synonyms: definitive, of record, precise

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

4. Having a commanding style.

   Synonyms: grave, magisterial, masterful, oracular, sterling

   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^[1], 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.

   • 2026 January 29, “Woke rhetoric & design in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (Paramount / CBS, 2026)”, in An Actor Explains‎^[2], via Substack, archived from the original on 2 February 2026:

     Woke is here to undermine Star Trek and Starfleet, so, in this conflict, Holly Hunter’s character manifests feminine traits instead of authoritative ones: she’s emotional, uncertain and vulnerable.

Derived terms

• authoritatively
• authoritativeness
• inauthoritative
• nonauthoritative
• unauthoritative

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: virallinen (fi), arvovaltainen (fi), auktoritatiivinen (fi)
• French: officiel (fr), autoritaire (fr), autorisé (fr)
• German: autoritativ (de), offiziell (de)
• Ido: autoritatoza (io)
• 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: arvovaltainen (fi), auktoritatiivinen (fi)
• French: majeur (fr), autoritaire (fr), autorisé (fr)
• 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: αυθεντικός (el) (afthentikós)

  Ancient Greek: αὐθεντικός (authentikós)

• Italian: autoritario (it)
• Māori: pūkorero
• Polish: miarodajny (pl)
• 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), määräilevä
• French: magistériel (fr)
• German: gebieterisch (de)
• Ido: autoritatoza (io)
• Italian: autoritario (it)
• 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)