potestad

authority

noun poh-tes-TAHD Rare

Origin: From Latin potestas (power, ability).

Also means

power (legal)

Usage Note

Potestad has a formal or legal register — it refers specifically to vested power or authority, especially parental or institutional. Patria potestad is the standard legal term for 'parental authority/custody'. In everyday speech autoridad or poder are more common. The word is feminine despite ending in a consonant, as all Spanish nouns in -tad are.

Examples

"El juez tiene potestad para decidir."

Natural Translation

The judge has authority to decide.

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