実権(じっけん)

じっけん
noun
real power; actual authority
formalpoliticsabstract
1. real power; actual authority; control
The power that someone actually exercises, as opposed to a title or formal position. Used of politics, companies and families.
社長(しゃちょう)が実権(じっけん)を握(にぎ)っている。
The president holds the real power.
将軍(しょうぐん)は名(な)ばかりで、実権(じっけん)はなかった。
The shogun was shogun in name only and had no real power.
会長(かいちょう)は引退(いんたい)した後(あと)も、会社(かいしゃ)の実権(じっけん)を手放(てばな)そうとしなかった。
Even after retiring, the chairman would not let go of real control of the company.

実(じつ) (actual) + 権(けん) (power). The word implies a contrast with someone who holds the title but not the power.

Common collocations

Watch out

Same reading as the very common 実験(じっけん) (experiment).

Related Words

Compare: 全権(ぜんけん) (full authority)
general
Added 2026.10.8 22:56 · Revised 2026.10.17 22:45
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