Meanings
alternative powers-that-be
- idiomaticpluralplural onlyThe holders of power or the authorities in a given situation, especially if seen as being faceless or unreasonably bureaucratic.
The powers that be, they trick us / Loopholes to evict us
2021, “Skyline”, in Parallel World, performed by Cadence Weapon3 more examples
[I]t appeared as though the hospital at Barchester would fall into abeyance, unless the powers that be should take some steps towards putting it once more into working order.
1857, Anthony Trollope, “Hiram’s Hospital According to Act of Parliament”, in Barchester Towers. […], volume I, London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts, →OCLC, page 20Whoever you elect, he will legislate in favor of ‘law and order,’ to protect things as they are. The main concern of the powers that be is that the people should continue to believe in and uphold the existing system.
1929, Alexander Berkman, chapter 10, in Now and After: The ABC of Communist Anarchism, New York: Vanguard Press, →OCLCTime is truly wastin', there's no guarantee / Smile is in the makin', we've got to fight the powers that be
1975, “Fight the Power (Part 1 & 2)”, in The Heat Is On, performed by The Isley Brothers
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe holders of power or the authorities in a given situation, especially if seen as being faceless or unreasonably bureaucratic.
Origin
- Ancient Greekαἱ οὖσαι ἐξουσίαι“the existing authorities”
- Englishpowers that be
After Romans 13:1 in the Tyndale Bible and the King James Version. The phrase is a translation of the Ancient Greek αἱ οὖσαι ἐξουσίαι (hai oûsai exousíai, “the existing authorities”). The verb be is the archaic third-person plural present indicative form, equivalent to the modern are, and not a subjunctive.
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 當權者 /当权者
- 當權者 /当权者 (dāngquán zhě)holders of power
Dutch gevestigde orde, hoge heren
- gevestigde ordeholders of power
- hoge herenholders of power
- hogerhandholders of power
Finnish esivalta
- esivaltaholders of power
French autorités constituées
- autorités constituéesholders of power
German die zuständigen Stellen, die da oben
- die zuständigen Stellenholders of power
- die da obenholders of power
Greek αρμόδιοι
- αρμόδιοι (armódioi)holders of power
Hungarian a mindenkori hatalom/rendszer (fennálló)
- a mindenkori hatalom/rendszer (fennálló)holders of power
Italian poteri forti
- poteri fortiholders of power
Polish grupa trzymająca władzę, możni tego świata
- grupa trzymająca władzęholders of power
- możni tego świataholders of power
Russian власть имущие, сильные мира сего
- власть имущие (vlastʹ imuščije)holders of power
- сильные мира сего (silʹnyje mira sevo)holders of power
- власти предержащие (vlasti prederžaščije)holders of power
Spanish poderes establecidos, poderes que están
- poderes establecidosholders of power
- poderes que estánholders of power
- poderíos existentesholders of power
- potestades que sonholders of power
- potestades que hayholders of power
- poder fácticoholders of power
Swedish makthavare, överhet
- makthavareholders of power
- överhetholders of power
Cite this entry
powers that be. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/powers%20that%20be
“powers that be.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/powers%20that%20be. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “powers that be,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/powers%20that%20be.
Source: powers that be on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.