How to say "authority" in Japanese

• 威力いりょくJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounCovers 'authority' only in the sense of might: the sheer force or power something exerts, physical or persuasive. It is not the word for legal or institutional authority.
• 権力けんりょくJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveRefers to power held by a state, government, or ruler — authority as the ability to command and control others. Choose it when 'authority' means political power rather than expertise or prestige.
  王おうは権力けんりょくを奪うばわれた。↗

  The king was shorn of his power.
• 権威けんいJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe closest match for 'authority' as prestige or respected standing: the weight that makes people accept someone or something as trustworthy. It can also mean a person who is an authority in a field.
  学生がくせいたちは権威けんいに反抗はんこうした。↗

  The students revolted against authority.
• 通つうJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix), na-adjectiveThis word means a person — an expert, connoisseur, or well-informed authority on some field. 'Authority' here is only the person sense; it never denotes power, prestige, or jurisdiction.
  コーヒー通つうの人ひと達たちに結構けっこう評判ひょうばんがいいそうです。↗

  I hear that it has quite the reputation with coffee connoisseurs.
• 権限けんげんJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounAuthority as a mandate or jurisdiction: the officially defined scope of power a person or body has to act or decide. This is the word for questions of who has the authority to do what.
  何なんの権限けんげんで私に出でて行いけと言いうのだ。↗

  Who are you to tell me to get out?

Choose 権威 for authority as prestige or respected standing, 権力 for political power, 権限 for one's official scope of authority, 威力 for sheer might, and 通 for a person who is an expert.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 威力いりょくpower
• 権力けんりょく(political) power
• 権威けんいauthority
• 通つうauthority
• 権限けんげんpower
• 大家たいかmaster
• 威勢いせいpower
• 出典しゅってんsource (e.g. quotation)
• 重鎮じゅうちんleader
• 威光いこうpower
• 有識者ゆうしきしゃexpert
• 行政権ぎょうせいけんexecutive power
• 根拠こんきょbasis
• 元老げんろうelder statesman
• 専門家せんもんかspecialist
• 拠り所よりどころgrounds
• 権能けんのうauthority
• オーソリティーauthority
• 典拠てんきょ(an) authority
• 威権いけんauthority
• 威令いれいauthority
• 巨擘きょはくauthority
• 当局者とうきょくしゃauthority (person)
• 威いpower
• 権柄けんぺいpower
• 精通者せいつうしゃwell versed person
• 権けんauthority
• おしauthority
• 勢いいきおいinfluence
• 名家めいかgreat master
• 行政ぎょうせいadministration
• 力ちからpower