sovereign

[sov-rin, sov-er-in, suhv-]

noun

1. a monarch; a king, queen, or other supreme ruler.

   Synonyms: potentate, empress, emperor

2. a person who has supreme power or authority.

3. a group or body of persons or a state having sovereign authority.

   Synonyms: government

4. a gold coin of the United Kingdom, equal to one pound sterling: went out of circulation after 1914.

adjective

1. belonging to or characteristic of a sovereign or sovereign authority; royal.

   Synonyms: queenly, kingly, monarchical, princely, imperial, majestic, regal

2. having supreme rank, power, or authority.

3. supreme; preeminent; indisputable.

   a sovereign right.

   Synonyms: predominant, principal, paramount, chief

4. greatest in degree; utmost or extreme.

5. being above all others in character, importance, excellence, etc.

6. efficacious; potent.

   a sovereign remedy.

   Synonyms: effectual, effective

sovereign

/ ˈsɒvrɪn /

noun

1. a person exercising supreme authority, esp a monarch

2. a former British gold coin worth one pound sterling

adjective

1. supreme in rank or authority

   a sovereign lord

2. excellent or outstanding

   a sovereign remedy

3. of, relating to, or characteristic of a sovereign

4. independent of outside authority

   a sovereign state

Other Word Forms

• sovereignly adverb
• nonsovereign noun
• nonsovereignly adverb
• quasi-sovereign adjective
• subsovereign noun
• supersovereign adjective
• undersovereign noun
• unsovereign adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sovereign¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English soverain, altered by influence of reign, from Old French soverain, from Vulgar Latin superānus (unrecorded), equivalent to Latin super- super- + -ānus -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of sovereign¹

C13: from Old French soverain, from Vulgar Latin superānus (unattested), from Latin super above; also influenced by _reign

Example Sentences

Russia has pushed back against accusations that the incursion was deliberate – though it also stopped short of denying its drones had trespassed sovereign Polish airspace.

From BBC

It described Qatar as "a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace".

From BBC

Her campaign slogan is a call to "build a new nation" within "a sovereign, dignified, and prosperous Africa."

From BBC

Given this was an attack on sovereign Qatari territory, questions remain over how this will affect the massive US airbase at al-Udeid and how it will affect US relations with all its Gulf Arab allies.

From BBC

The Turing Institute said its board was now looking to appoint a new CEO who will oversee "the next phase" to "step up its work on defence, national security and sovereign capabilities".

From BBC

Related Words

• absolute 
• autonomous 
• unlimited