sovereign

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

/ ˈsɒv rɪn, ˈsɒv ər ɪn, ˈsʌv- /

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noun

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

a person who has supreme power or authority.

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

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

adjective

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

having supreme rank, power, or authority.

supreme; preeminent; indisputable: a sovereign right.

greatest in degree; utmost or extreme.

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

efficacious; potent: a sovereign remedy.

Nearby words

Origin of sovereign

1250–1300; Middle English soverain (alteration by influence of reign) < Old French soverain < Vulgar Latin *superānus, equivalent to Latin super- super- + -ānus -an

SYNONYMS FOR sovereign

1. emperor, empress, potentate. 3. government. 5. regal, majestic, imperial, princely, monarchical, kingly, queenly. 7. chief, paramount, principal, predominant. 10. effective, effectual.

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Related forms

sov·er·eign·ly, adverbnon·sov·er·eign, noun, adjectivenon·sov·er·eign·ly, adverbqua·si-sov·er·eign, adjective

sub·sov·er·eign, noun, adjectivesu·per·sov·er·eign, adjective, nounun·der·sov·er·eign, nounun·sov·er·eign, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sovereign

So where does this leave the millions of Palestinians—like my relatives—who dream of self-determination and a sovereign state?
In the Middle East, the Two-State Solution Is Dead|Dean Obeidallah|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Paudert is sure to acknowledge that sovereign citizens have the same rights as all Americans and that they are not all dangerous.
Sovereign Citizens Are America’s Top Cop-Killers|Caitlin Dickson|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the group has been paying close attention to the sovereign citizens for a while.
Sovereign Citizens Are America’s Top Cop-Killers|Caitlin Dickson|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Often, the most common opportunity for police officers to encounter a sovereign citizen is during a traffic stop.
Sovereign Citizens Are America’s Top Cop-Killers|Caitlin Dickson|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The Reservation is sovereign Indian land, and the grizzly is a sacred animal to these tribes.
What It Takes to Kill a Grizzly Bear|Doug Peacock|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Court was pure; the persons of the Sovereign and her Consort profoundly respected.
The Greville Memoirs (Second Part)|Charles C. F. Greville
The lower class were idle and lazy, and willing to serve any sovereign who appealed to them by ostentation.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Let me add my poor admiration to all you receive, realizing that you saved the Emperor, soon to be my sovereign also.
The Game and the Candle|Eleanor M. Ingram
Upon these grounds Panama claimed that she was a sovereign state temporarily under the duress of a superior government.
The Panama Canal|Frederic Jennings Haskin
Dishonour and prejudice would accrue to any sovereign who should upset the very nature of the constitution.
St George's Cross|H. G. Keene

British Dictionary definitions for sovereign

sovereign

/ (ˈsɒvrɪn) /

noun

a person exercising supreme authority, esp a monarch

a former British gold coin worth one pound sterling

adjective

supreme in rank or authoritya sovereign lord

excellent or outstandinga sovereign remedy

of, relating to, or characteristic of a sovereign

independent of outside authoritya sovereign state

Derived Formssovereignly, adverb

Word Origin for sovereign

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

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

Word Origin and History for sovereign

sovereign

late 13c., "superior, ruler, master," from Old French soverain "sovereign, lord, ruler," noun use of adjective meaning "highest, supreme, chief" (see sovereign (adj.)). Meaning "gold coin worth 22s 6d" first recorded late 15c.; value changed 1817 to 1 pound.

sovereign

adj.

early 14c., "great, superior, supreme," from Old French soverain "highest, supreme, chief," from Vulgar Latin *superanus "chief, principal" (source also of Spanish soberano, Italian soprano), from Latin super "over" (see super-). Spelling influenced by folk-etymology association with reign. Milton spelled it sovran, as though from Italian sovrano. Of remedies or medicines, "potent in a high degree," from late 14c.

sovereign

noun

adjective

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Origin of sovereign

Examples from the Web for sovereign

sovereign

noun

adjective

Word Origin for sovereign

sovereign

sovereign