権威(けんい)

けんい
noun
authority, prestige
society
1. authority, power, influence
The power or right to command, enforce rules, or make decisions. Also the commanding influence that comes from status, tradition, or institutional position.
権威(けんい)に逆(さか)らう。
To defy authority.
親(おや)の権威(けんい)が弱(よわ)まっている。
Parental authority is weakening.
権威(けんい)を振(ふ)りかざして人(ひと)を従(したが)わせようとする態度(たいど)は好(この)まれない。
The attitude of wielding authority to force people to comply is not well-liked.
2. authority, leading expert
A person who is widely recognized as a foremost expert in a particular field. Used to describe someone whose expertise commands respect.
彼(かれ)はこの分野(ぶんや)の権威(けんい)だ。
He is an authority in this field.
世界的(せかいてき)な権威(けんい)が集(あつ)まる学会(がっかい)に参加(さんか)した。
I attended a conference where world-class authorities gathered.
心臓(しんぞう)外科(げか)の権威(けんい)として知(し)られる医師(いし)に診(み)てもらった。
I was examined by a doctor known as an authority in cardiac surgery.

Etymology

権(けん) (power, right) + 威(い) (authority, dignity, majesty).

Usage

In sense 1, 権威(けんい) often carries a slightly negative nuance when used in phrases like 権威(けんい)を振(ふ)りかざす (to wield authority overbearingly). In sense 2, it is neutral to positive, describing respected expertise. The adjective form 権威的(けんいてき) means "authoritarian."

Common collocations

Related Words

Compare: 識者(しきしゃ) (expert)
general
Added 2026.2.23 21:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13000/13173_keni