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sovereignty

[ sov-rin-tee, suhv- ]
/ ˈsɒv rɪn ti, ˈsʌv- /

noun, plural sov·er·eign·ties.

the quality or state of being sovereign, or of having supreme power or authority.
the status, dominion, power, or authority of a sovereign;royal rank or position; royalty.
supreme and independent power or authority in government as possessed or claimed by a state or community.
rightful status, independence, or prerogative.
a sovereign or independent state, community, or political unit.

QUIZZES

Discover The Influence Of Portuguese On English Via This Quiz!
We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?
Question 1 of 11
Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?
owl
crow
piranha
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Words nearby sovereignty

souvlakia, sov language, sov. un., sovereign, sovereigntist, sovereignty, sovereignty association, sovetsk, soviet, soviet bloc, soviet central asia

Origin of sovereignty

1300–50; Middle English soverainte < Anglo-French sovereynete (Old French soverainete), equivalent to soverain sovereign + -ete -ty2

OTHER WORDS FROM sovereignty

self-sov·er·eign·ty, nounsu·per·sov·er·eign·ty, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for self-sovereignty

sovereignty
/ (ˈsɒvrəntɪ) /

noun plural -ties

supreme and unrestricted power, as of a state
the position, dominion, or authority of a sovereign
an independent state
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for self-sovereignty

sovereignty
[ (sov-ruhn-tee, sov-uhr-uhn-tee) ]

A nation or state's supreme power within its borders. A government might respond, for example, to criticism from foreign governments of its treatment of its own citizens by citing its rights of sovereignty.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.