authoritative

What it means

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.

   Synonyms: formal, proper, ex cathedra

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.

   Synonyms: definitive, of record, precise

3. Having a commanding style.

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

   2 more examples

   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.

   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

   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.

   2026 January 29, “Woke rhetoric & design in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (Paramount / CBS, 2026)”, in An Actor Explains, via Substack, archived from the original on 02 Feb 2026

   Synonyms: grave, magisterial, masterful, oracular, sterling

In a sentence

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

Where it comes from

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ewg-
2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂owg-éye-ti
3. Proto-Italic*augejō
4. Proto-Italic*augeō
5. Latinaugeō
6. Latinauctor
7. Latinauctōritā
8. Old Frenchautorité
9. Middle Englishauctorite
10. Englishauthorit(y)
11. Englishauthoritative

From authorit(y) + -ative.