Authority vs Power

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Authority

Top 2,000 (common) B1 noun

Power

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 noun

Most common: Power

	Authority	Power
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //əˈθɔːrɪti// 🇺🇸 //əˈθɔːrɪti// Hear Authority	🇬🇧 /["/ˈpaʊə(r)/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈpaʊər/"]/ Hear Power
Meaning	The power or right to give orders and make decisions.	The ability to do something or to control people or things.
Example	The teacher has authority over the students.	The power of the wind can generate electricity.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B1	A2
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	exercise authority, recognize authority, challenge authority	absolute, ultimate, considerable, come to, rise to, assume, be concentrated in (the hands of somebody/​something), flow from somebody/​something, lie with somebody/​something, struggle, relations, structure, in power, in somebody’s power, power of, abuse of power, the balance of power, a bid for power, absolute, ultimate, considerable, come to, rise to, assume, be concentrated in (the hands of somebody/​something), flow from somebody/​something, lie with somebody/​something, struggle, relations, structure, in power, in somebody’s power, power of, abuse of power, the balance of power, a bid for power, full, reduced, electric, generate, produce, provide (somebody/​something with), drive something, run something, go off, cable, grid, line, power for, a source of power, full, reduced, electric, generate, produce, provide (somebody/​something with), drive something, run something, go off, cable, grid, line, power for, a source of power, awesome, great, real, awesome, great, real, air, combat, military, have, possess, use, beyond somebody/​something’s power, in somebody’s power, within somebody’s power, at the height of your powers, at the peak of your powers, at the zenith of your powers, air, combat, military, have, possess, use, beyond somebody/​something’s power, in somebody’s power, within somebody’s power, at the height of your powers, at the peak of your powers, at the zenith of your powers, air, combat, military, have, possess, use, beyond somebody/​something’s power, in somebody’s power, within somebody’s power, at the height of your powers, at the peak of your powers, at the zenith of your powers, absolute, ultimate, considerable, come to, rise to, assume, be concentrated in (the hands of somebody/​something), flow from somebody/​something, lie with somebody/​something, struggle, relations, structure, in power, in somebody’s power, power of, abuse of power, the balance of power, a bid for power, great, major, world, air, combat, military, have, possess, use, beyond somebody/​something’s power, in somebody’s power, within somebody’s power, at the height of your powers, at the peak of your powers, at the zenith of your powers, air, combat, military, have, possess, use, beyond somebody/​something’s power, in somebody’s power, within somebody’s power, at the height of your powers, at the peak of your powers, at the zenith of your powers, absolute, ultimate, considerable, come to, rise to, assume, be concentrated in (the hands of somebody/​something), flow from somebody/​something, lie with somebody/​something, struggle, relations, structure, in power, in somebody’s power, power of, abuse of power, the balance of power, a bid for power
Antonyms	powerlessness, subordination	weakness, ineffectiveness
Common mistakes	Confused with 'author' - authority refers to power, not authorship., Misused in singular form; should often use 'authorities' for multiple groups or people.	'Power' as a verb — learners often mistakenly use 'power' when they mean to say 'empower'., Confusing 'power' with 'might', as they have different nuances., Misusing 'power' in phrases, e.g., 'the power of' requires a specified noun.
Usage notes	Used in both formal and informal contexts. Often refers to organizations or individuals in positions of power.	Used in both formal and informal contexts. In discussions about politics or leadership, 'power' often has a weighty connotation, while in casual settings it might refer to electricity or strength. Avoid using it in overly casual contexts when discussing serious topics.

Frequently asked questions: Authority vs Power

What's the difference between Authority and Power?

Authority: The power or right to give orders and make decisions. Power: The ability to do something or to control people or things.

Which is more common: Authority and Power?

Power is the most common in everyday English.

Are Authority and Power the same CEFR level?

Authority: B1, Power: A2 on the CEFR scale.

Can I use Authority and Power interchangeably?

Not always. Authority and Power are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.