What does 権威 mean when referring to goods?


Looking online it looks like it means either:

  1. 他の者を服従させる威力
  2. ある分野において優れたものとして信頼されていること。その分野で、知識や技術が抜きんでて優れていると一般に認められていること。また、その人。オーソリティー。

Obviously definition one doesn't make any sense in context, however I am not
quite sure if the second definition fits this situation. Can this word be used
to refer to products for sale that are one step above the competition (for
example water that is good for your health, etc...).

> Character
> 1「ちなみに、この井戸の水を詰めて、他領地に売る商売なんかもあるわよ。飲むと健康にいい気がする、お米が美味しく炊ける気がする、植物の成長が早くなる気がすると言った効果で大人気なんだとか」
>
> Character 2「全部気がする、なんだな……」
>
> Character 3「そこまで商魂たくましいと、さすがに教会に怒られる気がする……」
>
> Character 1「 **権威がつけば** ある程度は売れちゃうからねぇ」
>
> Character 4「ど、どうなんでしょうね……」




In this context, 権威 refers to famous people, places or organizations which can
endorse the quality of the goods. 権威を付ける (or 権威付け) refers to the assurance or
recommendation from such entities.

Near the end of a movie trailer, we often see comments showing how the movie
is appreciated, e.g., "Best Sci-Fi Ever -- ABC Report", "Nominated for five
XYZ Awards". Here "ABC Report" and "XYZ Awards" are 権威, and such comments are
called 権威付け.

In your example, if this water is coming from a famous place, the place name
itself can be a 権威. お米が美味しく炊ける itself is not a 権威, but if the church
recommends the water saying this, it is called a 権威付け because the church is a
権威.




In this context, 権威 refers to famous people, places or organizations which can
endorse the quality of the goods. 権威を付ける (or 権威付け) refers to the assurance or
recommendation from such entities.

Near the end of a movie trailer, we often see comments showing how the movie
is appreciated, e.g., "Best Sci-Fi Ever -- ABC Report", "Nominated for five
XYZ Awards". Here "ABC Report" and "XYZ Awards" are 権威, and such comments are
called 権威付け.

In your example, if this water is coming from a famous place, the place name
itself can be a 権威. お米が美味しく炊ける itself is not a 権威, but if the church
recommends the water saying this, it is called a 権威付け because the church is a
権威.

