authority
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authority
The reputation and influence of a person or institution that cause their instructions and decisions to be respected and followed.
Ein guter Chef führt nicht durch Befehle, sondern durch natürliche Autorität.
A good boss leads not through orders, but through natural authority.
authority / expert
A person who is considered an expert in a particular field and whose opinion carries great weight.
Professor Müller ist eine international anerkannte Autorität in der Herzchirurgie.
Professor Müller is an internationally recognized authority in cardiac surgery.
authority / authorities
An official body or agency that exercises power and is responsible for enforcing laws. Often used in the plural as 'die Autoritäten' (the authorities).
Bei einem solchen Verdacht müssen Sie sich an die zuständige Autorität wenden.
In the case of such a suspicion, you must contact the responsible authority.
The ending '-tät' marks many feminine nouns in German that come from Latin and describe abstract concepts. Further examples are 'Qualität' (quality), 'Universität' (university), or 'Mentalität' (mentality).
Die Universität ist bekannt für ihre hohe Qualität in der Forschung.
The university is known for its high quality in research.
The abstract meaning (influence) is often uncountable: 'Autorität haben' (to have authority). When a person is meant, the word is countable: 'eine Autorität sein' (to be an authority). If it refers to official bodies, it often appears in the plural: 'die Autoritäten' (the authorities).
Die Lehrerin hat natürliche Autorität im Klassenzimmer.
The teacher has natural authority in the classroom.
When 'Autorität' (authority/expert) describes a person as an expert, it is often followed by the preposition 'auf' with the dative to name the field. The typical formulation is 'eine Autorität auf einem Gebiet sein' (to be an authority in a field).
Sie gilt als führende Autorität auf dem Gebiet der Genetik.
She is considered a leading authority in the field of genetics.
In the meaning 'Behörden' (authorities), the word is very often used in the plural. 'Die Autoritäten' (the authorities) then refers to state or official bodies such as the police or the government.
Die Autoritäten warnten die Bevölkerung vor dem starken Schneefall.
The authorities warned the population about the heavy snowfall.
authority / agency
Both words can refer to an official body with state power. „Behörde“ specifically refers to the administrative organization, whereas „Autorität“ is more likely to appear as the holder of recognized power and the enforcer of laws. Use „Behörde“ for the body and „Autorität“ for its powerful official role.
Die örtliche Autorität ordnete die Einhaltung der neuen Regeln an.
The local authority ordered compliance with the new rules.
Die Behörde erließ eine verbindliche Anordnung für den Betrieb.
The authority issued a binding order for the business.
