SAY-SO

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does say-so mean? 

• SAY-SO (noun)
  The noun SAY-SO has 3 senses:

1. one chap's arbitrary assertion

2. an authoritative declaration

3. the power or right to give orders or make decisions

  Familiarity information: SAY-SO used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SAY-SO (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

One chap's arbitrary assertion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("say-so" is a kind of...):

affirmation; assertion; statement (the act of affirming or asserting or stating something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An authoritative declaration

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

dictum; pronouncement; say-so

Hypernyms ("say-so" is a kind of...):

declaration (a statement that is emphatic and explicit (spoken or written))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "say-so"):

directive (a pronouncement encouraging or banning some activity)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The power or right to give orders or make decisions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

authorisation; authority; authorization; dominance; potency; say-so

Context example:

a place of potency in the state

Hypernyms ("say-so" is a kind of...):

control (power to direct or determine)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "say-so"):

power of appointment (authority given (in a will or deed) by a donor to a donee to appoint the beneficiaries of the donor's property)

carte blanche (complete freedom or authority to act)

command (the power or authority to command)

imperium (supreme authority; absolute dominion)

lordship (the authority of a lord)

muscle (authority or power or force (especially when used in a coercive way))

sovereignty (the authority of a state to govern another state)