Authority vs. Autonomy — What's the Difference?

In the fields of sociology and political science, authority is the legitimate power that a person or a group of persons possess and practice over other people. In a civil state, authority is made formal by way of a judicial branch and an executive branch of government.In the exercise of governance, the terms authority and power are inaccurate synonyms.

In developmental psychology and moral, political, and bioethical philosophy, autonomy is the capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision. Autonomous organizations or institutions are independent or self-governing.

The power to enforce laws, exact obedience, command, determine, or judge.

The condition or quality of being autonomous; independence.

One that is invested with this power, especially a government or body of government officials

Self-government or the right of self-government; self-determination.

Power assigned to another; authorization

Self-government with respect to local or internal affairs

A public agency or corporation with administrative powers in a specified field

A self-governing state, community, or group.

An accepted source of expert information or advice

(uncountable) The right or condition of self-government; freedom to act or function independently.

A quotation or citation from such a source

A self-governing country or region.

Justification; grounds

The capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision.

A conclusive statement or decision that may be taken as a guide or precedent.

The capacity of a system to make a decision about its actions without the involvement of another system or operator.

Power to influence or persuade resulting from knowledge or experience

The status of a church whose highest-ranking bishop is appointed by the patriarch of the mother church, but which is self-governing in all other respects. Compare autocephaly.

Confidence derived from experience or practice; firm self-assurance

The power or right of self-government; self-government, or political independence, of a city or a state.

(uncountable) Power or right to make or enforce rules or give orders; or a position having such power or right.

The sovereignty of reason in the sphere of morals; or man's power, as possessed of reason, to give law to himself. In this, according to Kant, consist the true nature and only possible proof of liberty.

(plural) Persons, regarded collectively, who occupy official positions of power; police or law enforcement.

Immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence

(countable) A reliable, definitive source of information on a subject.

Personal independence

(uncountable) Status as a trustworthy source of information, reputation for mastery or expertise; or claim to such status or reputation.

Official permission; authorisation to act in some capacity on behalf of a ruling entity.

(countable) A government-owned agency that runs a revenue-generating activity for public benefit.

Legal or rightful power; a right to command or to act; power exercised buy a person in virtue of his office or trust; dominion; jurisdiction; authorization; as, the authority of a prince over subjects, and of parents over children; the authority of a court.

Government; the persons or the body exercising power or command; as, the local authorities of the States; the military authorities.

The power derived from opinion, respect, or esteem; influence of character, office, or station, or mental or moral superiority, and the like; claim to be believed or obeyed; as, an historian of no authority; a magistrate of great authority.

That which, or one who, is claimed or appealed to in support of opinions, actions, measures, etc.

The power or right to give orders or make decisions;

(usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others;

An expert whose views are taken as definitive;

Freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities;

An administrative unit of government;

Official permission or approval;

An authoritative written work;