AUTHORITATIVE

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does authoritative mean? 

• AUTHORITATIVE (adjective)
  The adjective AUTHORITATIVE has 3 senses:

1. having authority or ascendancy or influence

2. of recognized authority or excellence

3. sanctioned by established authority

  Familiarity information: AUTHORITATIVE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AUTHORITATIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having authority or ascendancy or influence

Synonyms:

authoritative; important

Context example:

the captain's authoritative manner

Similar:

influential (having or exercising influence or power)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of recognized authority or excellence

Synonyms:

authoritative; definitive

Context example:

the definitive work on Greece

Similar:

standard (established or well-known or widely recognized as a model of authority or excellence)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Sanctioned by established authority

Synonyms:

authorised; authoritative; authorized

Context example:

the authorized biography

Similar:

official (having official authority or sanction)

 Context examples 

Indicates the person or authoritative body who has distributed something.

(Distributed By, NCI Thesaurus)

The person or authoritative body who provided the definition.

(Definition Source, NCI Thesaurus)

The person or authoritative body who provided the information.

(Data Source, NCI Thesaurus)

Opinions of respected authorities based on clinical experience, consensus statements from expert committees, or authoritative reviews.

(Level of Evidence IV, NCI Dictionary)

Indicates the person or authoritative body who changed an item.

(Modified By, NCI Thesaurus)

In a few moments it opened again to admit a short square monk with a heavy, composed face and an authoritative manner.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

An alliance of 19 leading US cancer centers, an authoritative source of information to help patients and health professionals make informed decisions about cancer care.

(National Comprehensive Cancer Network, NCI Thesaurus)

Indicates the person or authoritative body who brought the item into existence.

(Created By, NCI Thesaurus)

Indicates the person or authoritative body who made completed something.

(Completed By, NCI Thesaurus)

Then there was a loud and authoritative tap. “Come in!” said Holmes.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)