authorities
authorities — 名詞
1. the ability or right to control what people do and to make them follow your deci
權力
影響或指揮他人思想、意見或行為的力量
the ability or right to control what people do and to make them follow your decisions, because of your position, status, or official role
The school principal has the authority to suspend students who break the rules repeatedly.
學校校長有權力開除一再違規的學生。
the authority to
A police officer's authority over the public is limited by the law.
警察對公眾的權力受到法律限制。
authority over
Parents often find that their natural authority weakens as their children become teenagers.
父母往往發現隨著孩子進入青少年期，他們自然的權威會減弱。
The queen's authority in modern Britain is mostly symbolic rather than political.
在現代英國，女王的權力大多只是象徵性的，而非政治性的。
During the emergency, the mayor exercised full authority over the city's resources.
緊急時期，市長對全市資源行使了完整的權力。
- power
broader term — can refer to physical strength or ability; 'authority' specifically implies legitimate or official control
- control
more direct and hands-on; 'authority' suggests the recognized right to control rather than the act itself
- command
stronger and more military in tone; suggests unquestioning obedience
- powerlessness
complete lack of ability to influence or control
文法句型
authority + over + noun phrase
authority + to + infinitive
用法筆記
Frequently uncountable — do not use 'authorities' when you mean the abstract power to command (use 'authority'). This sense describes the power itself, not the people who hold it.
常見錯誤
2. the official permission or right to do something, given by a person or organizat
職權；授權
經上級正式授予的行動權力
the official permission or right to do something, given by a person or organization that has higher rank or more power
The board gave the treasurer the authority to open a new bank account for the charity.
董事會授予財務主管為慈善機構開設新銀行帳戶的職權。
the authority to
No one may enter the research lab without written authority from the director.
未經主任書面授權，任何人不得進入研究實驗室。
without written authority
Yuki has the authority to approve refunds of up to five thousand dollars without asking the manager first.
Yuki 有權核准最高五千美元額度的退款，無需先請示主管。
The city council does not have the legal authority to ban private cars from the downtown area.
市議會沒有法律授權禁止私家車進入市中心區域。
By signing the contract, you grant us the authority to use your photos in our advertising campaign.
簽署合約即表示您授權我們在廣告活動中使用您的照片。
- permission
more general and less formal; 'authority' implies official or legal backing
- mandate
stronger — suggests a formal command or directive from above
- license
specifically a permit from an official body; 'authority' is broader
- prohibition
an official order forbidding something
- ban
a formal or legal block
文法句型
have the authority + to + infinitive
give/grant + noun phrase + authority + to + infinitive
without authority
用法筆記
Typically appears in the pattern 'have / give / grant + the + authority + to-infinitive.' The definite article 'the' is almost always used. This sense is distinct from sense 1 in that it focuses on delegated permission rather than inherent power.
常見錯誤
3. the people or groups who have the power to make decisions, give orders, and enfo
當局
有權決策或執法的人員或團體
the people or groups who have the power to make decisions, give orders, and enforce laws in a particular area, such as the police, local government, or a public department — always used in the plural form
The health authorities in Nairobi warned residents about a possible outbreak of dengue fever.
奈洛比的衛生當局警告居民可能爆發登革熱疫情。
health authorities
School authorities decided to close the building for a full week after the fire inspection failed.
學校當局在消防檢查未過後決定關閉校舍整整一週。
School authorities
The local authorities in the small town of Dun Laoghaire plan to build a new cycling path along the coast.
愛爾蘭 Dun Laoghaire 小鎮的地方當局計劃沿著海岸新建一條自行車道。
Authorities in Seoul announced new measures to reduce fine dust pollution during the winter months.
首爾當局宣布冬季減少微塵汙染的新措施。
The prison authorities placed the violent inmate in a separate cell for the safety of other prisoners.
監獄當局將暴力受刑人隔離在單獨牢房，以保障其他囚犯的安全。
- officials
more neutral and specific to individuals; 'authorities' can include both people and organizations
- government
narrower — specifically refers to the ruling body of a country or region
- administration
focuses on the executive branch or management; 'authorities' is broader
- citizens
ordinary people who are subject to the authorities' decisions
- the public
the general population, as opposed to those in power
文法句型
the authorities (as subject or object)
local / health / school / military authorities
用法筆記
Always used in the plural form even when referring to a single organization. 'The authority' (singular) in similar contexts means power or permission (senses 1–2), not the people. Distinguish from sense 4: 'authorities' here means people/officials, while sense 4 refers to the agency as an institution.
常見錯誤
4. an official organization or government body that is responsible for a specific a
官方機構
負責特定公共領域的政府組織
an official organization or government body that is responsible for a specific area of public life, such as transport, housing, water supply, or energy
The local housing authority provides affordable apartments for families with low incomes.
當地住宅管理局為低收入家庭提供價格合理的公寓。
housing authority
The New York Port Authority manages all three major airports in the area.
紐約港務局管理該地區的所有三座主要機場。
The water authority sent a repair team to fix the burst main pipe on Elm Street.
水利局派出維修團隊修復 Elm 街破裂的主水管。
The transport authority announced that all train fares will remain the same until next spring.
交通局宣布所有火車票價維持不變，直到明年春季。
The regional energy authority is responsible for supplying electricity to over two million households in this province.
區域能源局負責為該省超過兩百萬戶家庭供應電力。
- agency
more general; an 'authority' often has regulatory or administrative power, while an 'agency' may only provide services
- commission
usually an appointed group with specific regulatory duties; 'authority' often manages a public enterprise
- board
a group of directors or officials; 'authority' commonly implies a public body with operational responsibilities
文法句型
the + [name] + Authority
the + [adjective] + authority
用法筆記
When capitalized in a name — 'Port Authority,' 'Housing Authority' — it is a proper noun. In lower case, it describes the type of body generically. This sense counts as a separate noun (countable, singular) whereas sense 3 ('the authorities') is always plural.
常見錯誤
5. strong evidence, good reason, or a trustworthy source that makes a piece of info
根據
使資訊可信的可靠來源或理由
strong evidence, good reason, or a trustworthy source that makes a piece of information believable or a decision justified
I have it on good authority that the company will announce layoffs next week.
我從可靠管道得知，公司下週將宣布裁員。
on good authority
The journalist refused to name her sources but insisted she had solid authority for every claim in the article.
這名記者拒絕透露消息來源，但堅持她文章中的每一項說法都有可靠根據。
solid authority for
On what authority do you say that the election results were unfair?
你有什麼根據說選舉結果不公？
The historian's conclusions carry great authority because she spent ten years studying the original documents.
這位歷史學家的結論很有根據，因為她花了十年研究原始文件。
Dietmar has it on good authority that the factory will be closed.
Dietmar 從可靠管道得知工廠將會關閉。
- evidence
more concrete (documents, data); 'authority' emphasizes the trustworthiness of the source
- warrant
more formal and legal; 'authority' is broader in everyday use
- justification
focuses on the reasoning, while 'authority' focuses on the source that backs the reasoning
文法句型
on + (good/strong/sound) + authority
have authority + for + noun phrase
用法筆記
Common in set phrases: 'on good authority', 'on reliable authority', 'on what authority?'. Often used to indicate that the speaker has inside or trustworthy information without naming the specific source.
常見錯誤
6. a person, book, or document that is recognized as a reliable source of informati
權威；專家
被公認可靠的來源或專家
a person, book, or document that is recognized as a reliable source of information or expert knowledge on a particular subject
Professor Fatima Al-Rashid is a leading authority on ancient Arabic poetry and calligraphy.
Fatima Al-Rashid 教授是阿拉伯古詩與書法領域的權威。
authority on
The student cited several well-known authorities on climate science to support her thesis argument.
那位學生引用了好幾位氣候科學領域的知名權威來支持她的論文論點。
authorities on
Kwame's book on West African drumming traditions is considered the standard authority in the field.
Kwame 關於西非鼓樂傳統的書籍被視為該領域的標準權威著作。
For a research paper on marine biology, Priya consulted three separate authorities and compared their findings.
為了撰寫海洋生物學的研究報告，Priya 查閱了三位不同的權威專家，並比較了他們的研究結果。
The Oxford English Dictionary remains the final authority on the history of English words and their meanings.
《牛津英語詞典》仍是英語詞彙歷史與字義的最終權威。
- expert
more common and less formal; 'authority' implies greater prestige and recognition
- specialist
focuses on narrow field expertise; 'authority' suggests acknowledged leadership in the field
- reference work
a book or source; 'authority' can refer to either a person or a document
文法句型
an authority + on + topic
cite + noun phrase + as an authority
用法筆記
Always takes 'on' to specify the area of expertise: 'an authority on medieval history.' Do not confuse with sense 5 — this sense refers to the person or work itself, not the reliability of information.
常見錯誤
7. a previous court decision, legal ruling, or judicial statement that lawyers and
判例；權威判決
可作為先例的法院裁決
a previous court decision, legal ruling, or judicial statement that lawyers and judges use as a rule or example when deciding similar cases
The defense lawyer cited a Supreme Court authority from 1987 to support her argument about free speech.
辯護律師引用了 1987 年最高法院的一項判例來支持她關於言論自由的主張。
Supreme Court authority
A trial judge is bound by the authorities of higher courts in the same jurisdiction.
初審法官受到同一司法管轄區內上級法院判例的約束。
bound by the authorities
The prosecutor presented the jury with a binding authority that clearly applied to this type of fraud case.
檢察官向陪審團提出一項明確適用于這類詐欺案件的具有約束力的判例。
Law students spend hours reading authorities to understand how previous rulings shape current legal thinking.
法學生花大量時間研讀判例，以了解先前的裁決如何影響當前的法律思維。
The judge ruled that the earlier case from California was not a persuasive authority in this New York court.
法官裁定加州的那起早期案件對紐約法院不具參考效力。
文法句型
cite + noun phrase + as authority
binding / persuasive authority
用法筆記
In law, 'authority' (countable in this sense) refers to a specific case, statute, or legal text. 'Binding authority' must be followed by lower courts; 'persuasive authority' may guide a judge's decision but is not mandatory. The plural 'authorities' is common.