What does “authoritative” mean?

authoritative


Oh, this is a good one —

"Authoritative" means someone (or something) seems very confident, knowledgeable, and trustworthy — like they really know what they're talking about.

So imagine a doctor explaining your health in a calm, clear, sure way. You'd say, "She spoke in a very authoritative voice." Or maybe a teacher who always has the right answer — "He's so authoritative on the subject, everyone listens."

It can also describe a source of information. Like, "That's a really authoritative book on history" — meaning it's well-researched and you can trust it.

One small thing — it's not the same as being mean or bossy. It's more like... powerful confidence that earns respect naturally.

So basically, "authoritative" = trusted, confident, and reliable in a way that makes people pay attention.

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