Meanings
comparative more authoritative · superlative most authoritative
- 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
- 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
- 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 26Woke 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 2026Synonyms: grave, magisterial, masterful, oracular, sterling
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveArising or originating from a figure of authority.
adjectiveHighly accurate or definitive; treated or worthy of treatment as a scholarly authority.
adjectiveHaving a commanding style.
More synonyms by meaning
adjectiveendowed with authority
adjectivehaving authority or ascendancy or influence
adjectiveof recognized authority or excellence
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂ewg-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂owg-éye-ti
- Proto-Italic*augejō
- Proto-Italic*augeō
- Latinaugeō
- Latinauctor
- Latinauctōritā
- Old Frenchautorité
- Middle Englishauctorite
- Englishauthorit(y)
- Englishauthoritative
From authorit(y) + -ative.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek αὐθεντικός
- αὐθεντικός (authentikós)accurate or definitive
Bulgarian авторитарен, авторитетен
- авторитарен (avtoritaren)originating from a figure of authority
- авторитетен (avtoriteten)accurate or definitive
- достоверен (dostoveren)accurate or definitive
- заповеднически (zapovedničeski)having a commanding style
Chinese Mandarin 正式的, 官方的
- 正式的 (zhèngshì de)originating from a figure of authority
- 官方的 (guānfāng de)originating from a figure of authority
- 權威的 /权威的 (quánwēi de)originating from a figure of authority
- 當局的 /当局的 (dāngjú de)originating from a figure of authority
- 權威的 /权威的 (quánwēi de)accurate or definitive
- 有權威的 /有权威的 (yǒu quánwēi de)accurate or definitive
- 可信的 (kěxìn de)accurate or definitive
- 命令式的 (mìnglìng shì de)having a commanding style
Czech autoritativní, autoritativní
- autoritativníoriginating from a figure of authority
- autoritativníaccurate or definitive
- autoritářskýhaving a commanding style
Esperanto aŭtoritata
- aŭtoritataaccurate or definitive
Finnish virallinen, arvovaltainen
- virallinenoriginating from a figure of authority
- arvovaltainenoriginating from a figure of authority
- auktoritatiivinenoriginating from a figure of authority
- arvovaltainenaccurate or definitive
- auktoritatiivinenaccurate or definitive
- käskevähaving a commanding style
- määräilevähaving a commanding style
French officiel, autoritaire
- officieloriginating from a figure of authority
- autoritaireoriginating from a figure of authority
- autoriséoriginating from a figure of authority
- majeuraccurate or definitive
- autoritaireaccurate or definitive
- autoriséaccurate or definitive
- magistérielhaving a commanding style
German autoritativ, offiziell
- autoritativoriginating from a figure of authority
- offizielloriginating from a figure of authority
- vorherrschendaccurate or definitive
- maßgebendaccurate or definitive
- maßgeblichaccurate or definitive
- führendaccurate or definitive
- tonangebendaccurate or definitive
- gebieterischhaving a commanding style
Greek αυθεντικός
- αυθεντικός (afthentikós)accurate or definitive
Italian autorevole, autoritario
- autorevoleoriginating from a figure of authority
- autoritarioaccurate or definitive
- autoritariohaving a commanding style
Māori pūkorero
- pūkoreroaccurate or definitive
Norwegian myndig, myndig
- myndigoriginating from a figure of authority
- myndighaving a commanding style
Polish autorytatywny, miarodajny
- autorytatywnyoriginating from a figure of authority
- miarodajnyaccurate or definitive
- autorytatywnyhaving a commanding style
Portuguese oficial, legal
- oficialoriginating from a figure of authority
- legaloriginating from a figure of authority
- definitivoaccurate or definitive
- respeitadoaccurate or definitive
- completoaccurate or definitive
- autoritativoaccurate or definitive
- autoritáriohaving a commanding style
Russian официа́льный, авторите́тный
- официа́льный (oficiálʹnyj)originating from a figure of authority
- авторите́тный (avtoritétnyj)accurate or definitive
- достове́рный (dostovérnyj)accurate or definitive
- вла́стный (vlástnyj)having a commanding style
- повели́тельный (povelítelʹnyj)having a commanding style
Spanish autoritativo, oficial
- autoritativooriginating from a figure of authority
- oficialoriginating from a figure of authority
- fidedignoaccurate or definitive
- autorizadoaccurate or definitive
- autoritariohaving a commanding style
Swedish auktoritativ, myndig
- auktoritativaccurate or definitive
- myndighaving a commanding style
Ukrainian авторите́тний, авторите́тний
- авторите́тний (avtorytétnyj)originating from a figure of authority
- авторите́тний (avtorytétnyj)accurate or definitive
- авторите́тний (avtorytétnyj)having a commanding style
- вла́дний (vládnyj)having a commanding style
Cite this entry
authoritative. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/authoritative
“authoritative.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/authoritative. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “authoritative,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/authoritative.
Source: authoritative on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.