権威|けんいken'i[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounauthority; power; influence; prestige
   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.

   その建築家けんちくかは権威けんいある賞しょうを受賞じゅしょうしたことを自慢じまんした。↗

   The architect boasted that he had received a prestigious award.
2. noun(an) authority (on); expert
   その教授きょうじゅはシェイクスピアの権威けんいである。↗

   That professor is an authority on Shakespeare.

• Synonym権力けんりょくNeutralPolitical power to rule over others; it stresses coercion, while 「権威」 stresses the prestige that wins willing obedience.
• Synonym影響力えいきょうりょくNeutralInfluence, as in 「影響力が大きい」; it stresses the size of one's effect and does not imply being revered as an authority.
• Synonym権勢けんせいWrittenWritten style for power and influence, as in 「権勢を振るう」; it stresses might and dominance rather than prestige.
• Synonym威光いこうWrittenWritten style for a majesty that makes people fear and obey, as in 「親の威光」 or 「神の威光」.
• Synonym大家たいかNeutralA master of a field, as in 「書道の大家」; it leans toward the person, whereas 「権威」 covers both the expert and the prestige itself. Read 「たいか」.
• Synonym威力いりょくNeutralPower or might, as in 「爆弾の威力」; it stresses the sheer strength of something, not standing or prestige.
• SynonymオーソリティーWrittenA written-style loanword for authority or an authority figure. Examples are scarce; in everyday speech 「権威」 is the normal choice.
• Related権限けんげんNeutralThe scope of one's authority, as in 「決定権限」; it stresses what one is officially or legally allowed to do.
• Related職権しょっけんWrittenWritten style: the powers that come with one's official post, as in 「職権乱用」; it is tied specifically to the office held.
• Related大家たいかNeutralA master of a field, as in 「書道の大家」; it leans toward the person, whereas 「権威」 covers both the expert and the prestige itself. Read 「たいか」.
• Related元老げんろうWrittenWritten style for an elder statesman or senior figure; it stresses long experience and high renown rather than expertise itself.
• Related権威者けんいしゃNeutralAn authority figure; it names the person more explicitly than 「権威」, which can also mean the prestige itself.
• Related勢威せいいWrittenWritten style for power and might combined; rarely seen in modern Japanese.
• Related大宗たいそうWrittenWritten style for a master or leading authority in a field; rarely used in modern Japanese.
• Related泰斗たいとWrittenWritten style for a luminary, as in 「学界の泰斗」; it leans toward great scholars and academics.
• Related泰山北斗たいざんほくとWrittenA written idiom for a greatly revered authority; more solemn and honorific than 「泰斗」.
• Antonym無権威WrittenA rare written-style antonym meaning lack of authority; the opposite of 「権威」 as prestige.

Use 「権威」 for the prestige that makes people obey or for a leading figure in a field, as in 「権威ある賞」 and 「医学の権威」. For political ruling power say 「権力」, for the scope of official powers 「権限」, and for a great scholar 「泰斗」 or 「大家」.

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

1. 他ほかを服従ふくじゅうさせる威力いりょく。
2. ある分野ぶんやで知識ちしき・技術ぎじゅつが優すぐれており、他たから範はんとされること。また、その人物じんぶつ。