authority 有三层含义：① 权力，职权（the authority to do sth. = 做某事的权力）；② 权威，专家（an authority on sth. = 某领域的权威）；③ 当局，官方机构（the authorities = 当局；local authority = 地方当局）。关键结构：have/give the authority to do（有权/授权做某事）；on the authority of（凭借…的权威，经…授权）；in authority（当权的：those in authority = 当权者）。注意：① 单数 authority = 权力/权威（不可数）；② 复数 authorities = 当局（plural only：the authorities were notified = 已通知当局）。
释义
1
n.（不可数）权力，职权
The regional manager does not have the authority to approve expenditure above fifty thousand pounds without head office consent.
区域经理无权在未经总部同意的情况下批准超过五万英镑的支出。
2
n.（可数）权威，专家（an authority on）
Professor Chen is widely regarded as a leading authority on Tang dynasty poetry and its influence on later Chinese literature.
陈教授被广泛认为是唐诗及其对后代中国文学影响领域的权威专家。
3
n.（复数 the authorities）当局，官方机构
The environmental authorities launched an investigation after toxic waste was discovered in the river near the industrial estate.
在工业区附近河流中发现有毒废物后，环保当局启动了调查。
语感
authority（不可数）= 权力；an authority on = 权威人士；the authorities = 当局（复数）
权力，职权（不可数）权威，专家（可数，an authority on）当局（复数 the authorities）
高频搭配：have the authority to do（有权做某事）；be in authority（当权：those in authority = 当权者）；on sb.'s authority（凭某人的授权：act on sb.'s authority = 奉某人之命行事）；speak with authority（权威地发言：speak with authority on a subject = 就某话题权威地发言）；local / regional authority（地方/区域当局）；challenge / question authority（质疑权威，常见搭配）；position of authority（权威地位：a position of authority = 权威职位）。辨析：authority（权力，合法的制度性权力：government authority）vs. power（力量，更广泛的权力，含物理/政治：in power = 执政；power over sb. = 对某人的支配权）vs. influence（影响力，非强制性：have influence over = 对…有影响力）。
陷阱
⚠️authority（权力，不可数）vs. an authority（权威人士，可数）
✗
The committee was set up to provide an authority on matters relating to data privacy and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.
该委员会的成立是为了就数据隐私和人工智能伦理使用相关事项提供权威指导。（provide authority = 提供权威职权；× an authority on matters 含义不自然）
此处 authority = 权力/职权（不可数），不加冠词 an；an authority = 权威人士/专家，指人或组织；此句是「在数据隐私方面提供权威意见」，应是 provide authority（无冠词）或更自然说 serve as an authority（作为权威机构）；× an authority on matters（含义偏向「机构」）
✓
The committee was set up to serve as a recognised authority on matters relating to data privacy and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.
该委员会的成立是为了成为数据隐私和人工智能伦理使用相关事项的公认权威机构。
⚠️the authorities（当局，复数）不可作单数
When residents reported the illegal dumping, the local authorities investigated the site and issued fines to the company responsible.
✗
the authorities 应该是单数（the authority investigated，像 the government investigated）
✓
the authorities（当局）固定复数形式，谓语必须用复数：the authorities were / investigated（复数动词）；× the authority investigated（单数 authority = 权力/权威，不指「当局」）；只有 the authorities 才表示「当局/官方机构」
authorityauthority（权力，合法制度性权力，通常通过职位获得：the authority to approve = 批准的权力）powerpower（力量/权力，更广义，可指政治/物理/影响力：in power = 执政；power over sb. = 支配权；不强调合法性）
The board granted the CEO full authority to negotiate the merger on behalf of the company.
董事会授予首席执行官全权代表公司谈判合并事宜。
After years of civil conflict, the new government finally consolidated its power and began rebuilding national institutions.
经过多年内战，新政府终于巩固了其权力，并开始重建国家机构。
写作加分
✨ 加分词
替换：people in chargethe governmentofficials
政治与治理话题法律与权力话题社会制度议论文
普通
The government officials said they would look into the problem.
政府官员表示他们将调查这个问题。
加分 ✨
The relevant authorities pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations and publish their findings within six months.
相关当局承诺对这些指控展开彻底调查，并在六个月内公布调查结果。
为什么更好：the authorities 比 government officials 更书面中性；pledged to conduct a thorough investigation 比 said they would look into 正式；publish their findings within six months 增加具体细节