How to say "sovereignty" in Japanese

• 主権しゅけんJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe common word for sovereignty in the ordinary political sense: a state's supreme, independent authority. This is the word you want for national or popular sovereignty.
  主権しゅけんは人民じんみんにある。↗

  Sovereignty resides in the people.
• 万乗ばんじょう
  nounA less common word for sovereignty as the authority of a ruler or throne; seldom the word you want for the sovereignty of a state — use 主権 there.
• 統治権とうちけん
  nounSovereignty understood as the right to govern: the authority to rule a state. A less common term; use it when the emphasis is on the governing power itself rather than sovereignty in general.
• 至上権しじょうけん
  nounSovereignty as supremacy: the highest, overriding authority in a state. A less common term whose primary sense is 'supremacy'; seldom the word you want for political sovereignty in general.
• 支配権しはいけん
  nounEssentially the right of control over something; 'sovereignty' is a marginal sense, so for the sovereignty of a state this is seldom the word you want.
  その君主くんしゅは臣民しんみんに対たいして絶対ぜったいの支配権しはいけんを持もっていた。↗

  The lord held absolute power over his subjects.

Use 主権 for sovereignty in the ordinary political sense of a state's supreme independent authority; 統治権 stresses the right to govern, 至上権 supreme authority, 万乗 refers to a ruler's or throne's sovereignty, and 支配権 means the right of control.

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

• 主権しゅけんsovereignty
• 万乗ばんじょうsovereignty
• 統治権とうちけんsovereignty
• 至上権しじょうけんsupremacy
• 支配権しはいけんright of control