I came across the sentence:
He has no respect for authority whatsoever.
There are only 3 potentinal meanings of the word 'authority' according to http://www.collinsdictionary.com since the noun is uncountable but none of them seems to fit into the sentence above.
1. Authority is the right to command and control other people.
2. If someone has authority, they have a quality which makes other people take notice of what they say.
3. Authority is official permission to do something.
I'll be glad if you find the time to answer. (:
Best Answer
The expression, "no respect for authority" is a trope that, in its entirety, means someone doesn't follow "the rules" or behave according to conventional expectations or who openly and contemptuously defies the guidance of persons in leadership roles. The exact kind of "authority" that is flouted will always depend upon context. The expression works equally for "authority" embodied in persons charged with directing, commanding, enforcing, and so forth and for the impersonal authority of customs, laws, standard practices, common agreements, and the like.