Power vs. Authority — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on August 31, 2023
Power is the capacity to influence, while authority is the granted right to command.
Difference Between Power and Authority
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Power is the inherent ability or capacity of an individual or group to influence actions, beliefs, or decisions of others. Authority, on the other hand, is a recognized right or legitimacy given to a person or organization to make decisions, command, or control.
Power can emanate from various sources such as physical strength, knowledge, or access to resources. Authority is more structured and is derived from a position, role, or office which allows an individual or entity to govern, regulate, or determine a course of action.
Power can sometimes be wielded without authority. For instance, someone may have the power to influence opinions through persuasion or charisma, but not have the formal authority to make decisions. In contrast, authority ensures that decisions or commands are backed by a recognized institution or system, granting them legitimacy.
Even though power can be exerted without the need for external validation, it may face resistance if it's perceived as overreach. Authority, with its sanctioned approval, is less likely to be questioned or defied, as it is rooted in established norms or systems.
Power reflects the potential to sway or direct, irrespective of any formal structure, while authority is about formalized rights and permissions in an established system or hierarchy.
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Comparison Chart
Source
Inherent ability or capacity
Recognized right or legitimacy
Basis
Can be based on strength, knowledge, etc.
Derived from a position, role, or office
Legitimacy
May or may not be perceived as legitimate
Generally accepted as legitimate
Resistance
Can face resistance if perceived as overreach
Less likely to be defied due to its rootedness
Usage
Reflects potential to sway or direct
About formalized rights in an established system
Compare with Definitions
Power
Power is the ability to do something or act in a certain way.
The hurricane's power destroyed many houses.
Authority
Authority is the right to give orders, make decisions, or enforce obedience.
The police have the authority to arrest suspects.
Power
Power means possessing control or command over others.
Her power in the company was unquestionable.
Authority
Authority means a person or organization having power or control in a particular field.
She is an authority on medieval history.
Power
Of or relating to the generation or transmission of electricity
Power companies.
Power lines.
Authority
Authority is the persuasive force in a specific domain or subject.
Her book is considered an authority on the topic.
Power
Of or relating to political, social, or economic control
A power struggle.
A power base.
Authority
Authority signifies the basis or grounds for a belief or action.
The scientist spoke with authority on the matter.
Power
A measure of the rate of doing work or transferring energy.
Authority
Authority can refer to the power or right delegated or given.
He has the authority to sign on behalf of the company.
Power
Physical strength and force exerted by something or someone
The lyrical power of his prose
The power of the storm
Authority
(uncountable) Status as a trustworthy source of information, reputation for mastery or expertise; or claim to such status or reputation.
Some thinkers regard appealing to authority as a logical fallacy; others regard it as a legitimate form of argument.
Power
Supply the force or power for the functioning of;
The gasoline powers the engines
Authority
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.
Power
Same as Poor, the fish.
Authority
Official permission or approval;
Authority for the program was renewed several times
Power
A state powerful enough to influence events throughout the world
Authority
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.
Power
A very wealthy or powerful businessman;
An oil baron
Authority
The power to enforce laws, exact obedience, command, determine, or judge.
Power
Power is the capacity or ability to direct or influence.
His words had the power to inspire many.
Authority
One that is invested with this power, especially a government or body of government officials
Land titles issued by the civil authority.
Power
Supply (a device) with mechanical or electrical energy
A nuclear-powered submarine
The car is powered by a fuel-injected 3.0-litre engine
Authority
Power assigned to another; authorization
Deputies were given authority to make arrests.
Power
The ability or capacity to act or do something effectively
Is it in your power to undo this injustice?.
Authority
A public agency or corporation with administrative powers in a specified field
A city transit authority.
Power
Physical strength or force exerted or capable of being exerted
The power of the waves.
Authority
An accepted source of expert information or advice
A noted authority on birds.
A reference book often cited as an authority.
Power
The product arising from the multiplication of a number into itself; as, a square is the second power, and a cube is third power, of a number.
Authority
A quotation or citation from such a source
Biblical authorities for a moral argument.
Power
Mental or moral ability to act; one of the faculties which are possessed by the mind or soul; as, the power of thinking, reasoning, judging, willing, fearing, hoping, etc.
The guiltiness of my mind, the sudden surprise of my powers, drove the grossness . . . into a received belief.
Authority
Justification; grounds
On what authority do you make such a claim?.
Power
The degree to which a lens, mirror, or any optical instrument, magnifies; in the telescope, and usually in the microscope, the number of times it multiplies, or augments, the apparent diameter of an object; sometimes, in microscopes, the number of times it multiplies the apparent surface.
Authority
A conclusive statement or decision that may be taken as a guide or precedent.
Power
Hence, vested authority to act in a given case; as, the business was referred to a committee with power.
Authority
Power to influence or persuade resulting from knowledge or experience
Political observers who acquire authority with age.
Power
Power refers to physical might or strength.
The athlete showcased his power during the competition.
Authority
Confidence derived from experience or practice; firm self-assurance
Played the sonata with authority.
Power
The ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way
His powers of concentration
The power of speech
I will do everything in my power to help you
Authority
(uncountable) Power or right to make or enforce rules or give orders; or a position having such power or right.
I have the authority to penalise the staff in my department, but not the authority to sack them.
Vigilantes may have the power to nab criminals, but they lack the authority.
She lost all respect and authority after turning up drunk at the meeting.
Respect my authority!
Power
The capacity or ability to direct or influence the behaviour of others or the course of events
She had me in her power
A political process that offers people power over their own lives
Authority
(plural) Persons, regarded collectively, who occupy official positions of power; police or law enforcement.
Authorities say the suspect fled on foot.
Power
Energy that is produced by mechanical, electrical, or other means and used to operate a device
Generating power from waste
Power cables
Authority
(countable) A reliable, definitive source of information on a subject.
The world's foremost authority on orangutans
My cheap dictionary is not the authority on word derivations.
Power
The rate of doing work, measured in watts or less frequently horse power.
Authority
Official permission; authorisation to act in some capacity on behalf of a ruling entity.
Power
The product obtained when a number is multiplied by itself a certain number of times
2 to the power of 4 equals 16
Authority
(countable) A government-owned agency that runs a revenue-generating activity for public benefit.
New York Port Authority
Chicago Transit Authority
Power
A large number or amount of something
There's a power of difference between farming now and when I was a lad
Authority
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.
Thus can the demigod, Authority,Make us pay down for our offense.
By what authority doest thou these things ?
Power
Move or travel with great speed or force
He powered round a bend
Authority
Government; the persons or the body exercising power or command; as, the local authorities of the States; the military authorities.
Power
Effectiveness at moving one's emotions or changing how one thinks
A novel of great power.
Authority
That which, or one who, is claimed or appealed to in support of opinions, actions, measures, etc.
Wilt thou be glass wherein it shall discernAuthority for sin, warrant for blame.
Power
The ability or official capacity to exercise control; authority
How long has that party been in power?.
Authority
The power or right to give orders or make decisions;
He has the authority to issue warrants
Deputies are given authorization to make arrests
Power
The military strength or economic or political influence of a nation or other group
That country projects its power throughout the region.
Authority
(usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others;
The authorities have issued a curfew
Power
A country, nation, or other political unit having great influence or control over others
The western powers.
Authority
An expert whose views are taken as definitive;
He is an authority on corporate law
Power
A supernatural being
The powers of evil.
Authority
Freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities;
His assurance in his superiority did not make him popular
After that failure he lost his confidence
She spoke with authority
Power
Powers(Christianity) The sixth of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology.
Authority
An administrative unit of government;
The Central Intelligence Agency
The Census Bureau
Office of Management and Budget
Tennessee Valley Authority
Power
The energy or motive force by which a physical system or machine is operated
Turbines turned by steam power.
A sailing ship driven by wind power.
Authority
An authoritative written work;
This book is the final authority on the life of Milton
Power
The capacity of a system or machine to operate
A vehicle that runs under its own power.
Power
Electrical or mechanical energy, especially as used to assist or replace human energy.
Power
Electricity supplied to a home, building, or community
A storm that cut off power to the whole region.
Power
(Physics) The rate at which work is done, expressed as the amount of work per unit time and commonly measured in units such as the watt and horsepower.
Power
The product of applied potential difference and current in a direct-current circuit.
Power
The product of the effective values of the voltage and current with the cosine of the phase angle between current and voltage in an alternating-current circuit.
Power
See exponent.
Power
The number of elements in a finite set.
Power
(Statistics) In a statistical test, the probability of correctly rejecting the null hypothesis when it is false.
Power
A measure of the magnification of an optical instrument, such as a microscope or telescope.
Power
(Archaic) An armed force.
Power
Operated with mechanical or electrical energy in place of bodily exertion
A power tool.
Power car windows.
Power
(Informal) Of or relating to influential business or professional practices
A pinstriped suit with a power tie.
Met with high-level executives at a power breakfast.
Power
Physical force or strength.
He needed a lot of power to hit the ball out of the stadium.
Power
Electricity or a supply of electricity.
After the pylons collapsed, this town was without power for a few days.
Power
A product of equal factors (and generalizations of this notion): , read as " to the power of " or the like, is called a power and denotes the product , where appears times in the product; is called the base and the exponent.
Power
(set theory) Cardinality.
Power
(statistics) The probability that a statistical test will reject the null hypothesis when the alternative hypothesis is true.
Power
In Christian angelology, an intermediate level of angels, ranked above archangels, but exact position varies by classification scheme.
Power
(transitive) To provide power for (a mechanical or electronic device).
This CD player is powered by batteries.
Power
(transitive) To hit or kick something forcefully.
Power
To enable or provide the impetus for.
Power
Impressive.
Power
Ability to act, regarded as latent or inherent; the faculty of doing or performing something; capacity for action or performance; capability of producing an effect, whether physical or moral: potency; might; as, a man of great power; the power of capillary attraction; money gives power.
Power
Ability, regarded as put forth or exerted; strength, force, or energy in action; as, the power of steam in moving an engine; the power of truth, or of argument, in producing conviction; the power of enthusiasm.
Power
Capacity of undergoing or suffering; fitness to be acted upon; susceptibility; - called also passive power; as, great power of endurance.
Power, then, is active and passive; faculty is active power or capacity; capacity is passive power.
Power
The exercise of a faculty; the employment of strength; the exercise of any kind of control; influence; dominion; sway; command; government.
Power is no blessing in itself but when it is employed to protect the innocent.
Power
The agent exercising an ability to act; an individual invested with authority; an institution, or government, which exercises control; as, the great powers of Europe; hence, often, a superhuman agent; a spirit; a divinity.
And the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
Power
A military or naval force; an army or navy; a great host.
Never such a power . . . Was levied in the body of a land.
Power
A large quantity; a great number; as, a power o good things.
Power
The rate at which mechanical energy is exerted or mechanical work performed, as by an engine or other machine, or an animal, working continuously; as, an engine of twenty horse power.
Power
A mechanical agent; that from which useful mechanical energy is derived; as, water power; steam power; hand power, etc.
Power
A machine acted upon by an animal, and serving as a motor to drive other machinery; as, a dog power.
Power
An authority enabling a person to dispose of an interest vested either in himself or in another person; ownership by appointment.
Power
Possession of controlling influence;
The deterrent power of nuclear weapons
The power of his love saved her
His powerfulness was concealed by a gentle facade
Power
(physics) the rate of doing work; measured in watts (= joules/second)
Power
Possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done;
Danger heightened his powers of discrimination
Power
(of a government or government official) holding an office means being in power;
Being in office already gives a candidate a great advantage
During his first year in office
During his first year in power
The power of the president
Power
One possessing or exercising power or influence or authority;
The mysterious presence of an evil power
May the force be with you
The forces of evil
Power
Physical strength
Power
A mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself
Power
Power can mean a source or means of supplying energy.
The dam is a major power source for the city.
Power
Often powers A specific capacity, faculty, or aptitude
Her powers of concentration.
Power
Chiefly Upper Southern US A large number or amount. See Note at powerful.
Power
To supply with power, especially mechanical or electrical power.
Power
The ability to do or undergo something.
Power
(social) The ability to coerce, influence, or control.
Power
(countable) The ability to affect or influence.
Power
Control or coercion, particularly legal or political (jurisdiction).
Power
The people in charge of legal or political power, the government.
Power
(metonymically) An influential nation, company, or other such body.
Power
An army, a military force.
Power
Effectiveness.
Power
The strength by which a lens or mirror magnifies an optical image.
We need a microscope with higher power.
Power
A large amount or number.
Power
Any of the elementary forms or parts of machines: three primary (the lever, inclined plane, and pulley) and three secondary (the wheel-and-axle, wedge, and screw).
The mechanical powers
Power
A measure of the effectiveness that a force producing a physical effect has over time. If linear, the quotient of: (force multiplied by the displacement of or in an object) ÷ time. If rotational, the quotient of: (force multiplied by the angle of displacement) ÷ time.
Common Curiosities
Can someone have power without authority?
Yes, one can influence others without a formal right to command.
What's the basic difference between power and authority?
Power is the capacity to influence, while authority is the granted right to command.
Is authority always derived from an official position?
Generally, yes. Authority usually stems from a recognized position, role, or system.
Can the source of authority be questioned?
Yes, the legitimacy or basis of authority can be questioned or challenged.
Does power always mean physical strength?
No, power can refer to influence, control, or even a source of energy.
Can an individual be an authority on a subject without holding a formal position?
Yes, an individual can be an authority based on expertise in a subject matter.
Can authority exist without power?
Generally, authority comes with some form of power, be it decision-making or command.
Is power always evident?
No, power can be latent or not immediately visible.
Is all power legitimate?
Not necessarily; power can be perceived as overreach or illegitimate.
Does authority always lead to compliance?
Not always, but authority is less likely to be defied due to its rootedness in established systems.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
