ADJ

district, local, regional
government, public
education, health, military, planning, tax
The government is urging education authorities to spend less money
competent, lawful, relevant, statutory

AUTHORITY + VERB

agree sth, claim sth, decide sth, deny sth, promise sth
The local health authority denied negligence
allow (sb) sth, give (sb) sth, grant (sb) sth
The local authority has not granted planning permission

ADJ

absolute, complete, full, supreme
governmental, judicial, legal, ministerial, parental, presidential

VERB + AUTHORITY

have
Parents have the authority to discipline their children
assume
He assumed full authority as tsar in 1689
give sb
assert, demonstrate, establish, exercise, exert, show, use, wield
The new manager obviously felt the need to demonstrate her authority
delegate
give up, relinquish
abuse
challenge, defy, deny, rebel against, reject, undermine
She had challenged my authority once too often
usurp

AUTHORITY + NOUN

figure
adult authority figures such as parents and teachers

PREP

in ~
I need to talk to someone in authority
under the ~ of
This can only be done under the authority of the government minister
without ~
He took the car without authority
~ over
Central government has extensive authority over teachers

PHRASES

an air of authority
He bore an air of authority
position of authority
She holds a position of authority in the local church

ADJ

leading, respected, world
unimpeachable, unquestioned

VERB + AUTHORITY

cite, invoke
Copernicus justified his innovation by citing respected authorities

PREP

~ on
She's a leading authority on genetics