apparent authority

Meaning

1. 1noununcountablelegal

   The power an agent seems to have, based on how the employer behaved, even if the agent was never actually given that power.

   Grammar: Usually used without an article: the agent acted with apparent authority.

   Patterns

   • act with apparent authority

   The clerk signed with apparent authority, so the firm was bound.

   The court asked whether the buyer relied on apparent authority.

   A title on a business card can create apparent authority.

Common combinations

act with apparent authority

She acted with apparent authority in the negotiation.

rely on apparent authority

The supplier relied on apparent authority.

create apparent authority

A company can create apparent authority by its conduct.

actual or apparent authority

The question was whether he had actual or apparent authority.

Synonyms and how they differ

ostensible authority

Ostensible authority is another legal term meaning the same thing, and it is slightly more formal.

implied authority

Implied authority comes from the job or situation itself, while apparent authority comes from how outsiders see it.

actual authority

Actual authority is real permission, which apparent authority does not require.

Opposites

Word family

apparent adjective

seeming or clearly visible

authority noun

the power to act

apparently adverb

as it seems

authorize verb

to give permission

Commonly confused: apparent authority or actual authority?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “apparent authority”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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