decisive authority

USAGE SUMMARY

"decisive authority" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe a person or body that is in a position of control to make decisions. For example, “The CEO had the decisive authority to make the final decision on the company’s budget.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

She has decisive authority and a deep effect on strategy and tactics".

The New York Times

While Mr. Medvedev is clearly a Putin loyalist, Russia has never had leaders who have wielded decisive authority from the background.

The New York Times

Local power brokers might possess wealth, honor, a reputation for piety, abundant weaponry or powerful allies, but they lacked the means or the will to convert those gifts into decisive authority.

The New York Times - Books

As mentioned earlier, women perceive their husbands to be the decisive authority for consent to seek health advice and when and where to use health care services.

Pastoralism

It contains first and foremost the idea of laws made and laid down by oneself, and, in virtue of this, laws that have decisive authority over oneself.

SEP

First, I have it on decisive authority that our Paleolithic ancestors had no paperclips.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

He lends both characters a calm, decisive moral authority.

The New Yorker

Mr. Bouteflika was hand-picked for the presidency last year by Algeria's generals, who have held decisive political authority since shortly after Algeria's independence from France in 1962.

The New York Times

"When you're in power, and want to stay there, you are not free to be yourself; you are expected to live up to your role as a dominant decisive, absolute authority — and to internalize it, to drink your own Kool-Aid," said Jennifer Overbeck, a psychologist at the University of Southern California.

The New York Times

The essence of "Inherent Vice," in Anderson's telling, is cherchez les femmes: look beyond the headlines and the history books to see the intimate stories, the privately decisive intelligence and authority of women who were kept, by the norms of the times, largely out of public life.

The New Yorker

All the same, with many reform candidates remaining among the thousands of Iranians competing for the 290 parliamentary seats, many believe that the balloting on Feb. 18 could still shift the balance of power against the hard-liners who control decisive centers of authority in the army, the police and the judiciary.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing leadership, using "decisive authority" can highlight the individual's capability to take charge and guide effectively.

Common error

Avoid using "decisive authority" too frequently in a single text. Vary your language by using synonyms like "ultimate power" or "final say" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decisive authority" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "decisive" modifies the noun "authority". It describes the characteristic of the authority being final and impactful. This is supported by examples where it's used to indicate power over strategy and tactics, as seen in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decisive authority" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable phrase denoting the power to make impactful and final decisions. While Ludwig identifies it as "correct" and usable, its frequency is relatively uncommon. The phrase appears most often in news and media, scientific and formal business contexts. To avoid repetition, consider using synonyms such as "ultimate power" or "final say". This phrase is suitable for formal and neutral registers, lending itself well to professional and academic communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decisive power

Focuses on the power to make decisions effectively.

paramount authority

Emphasizes that the authority is superior to others.

final say

Highlights the ability to make the concluding decision.

definitive control

Emphasizes the conclusiveness of the control.

conclusive jurisdiction

Focuses on the legal aspect of the authority.

ultimate power

Emphasizes the finality and extent of the power held.

ruling power

Highlights the power to govern or dictate.

supreme control

Focuses on the level of control exerted.

unquestionable power

Highlights that the power is not disputed.

absolute command

Suggests complete and unquestionable authority.

FAQs

How to use "decisive authority" in a sentence?

You can use "decisive authority" to describe someone or something that has the power to make important decisions. For example, "The CEO has the "decisive authority" on budget approvals."

What's the difference between "decisive authority" and "final say"?

"Decisive authority" implies having the overall power and responsibility to make key decisions, while "final say" specifically refers to having the last word in a decision-making process. Though similar, "decisive authority" suggests a broader scope of control.

What are some alternatives to "decisive authority"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "ultimate power", "supreme control", or "definitive control".

Is "decisive authority" formal or informal?

"Decisive authority" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts. It appears frequently in news articles and formal documents, making it adaptable to various professional and academic settings.