sovereign

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

/ ˈsɒv rɪn, ˈsɒv ər ɪn, ˈsʌv- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sovereign ON THESAURUS.COM

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

souvenir sheet, souvlaki, souvlakia, sov language, sov. un., sovereign, sovereigntist, sovereignty, sovereignty association, sovetsk, soviet

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.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sovereign ON THESAURUS.COM

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 Forms

sovereignly, 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

sovereign

noun

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of sovereign

SYNONYMS FOR sovereign

Related forms

Examples from the Web for sovereign

British Dictionary definitions for sovereign

sovereign

noun

adjective

Derived Forms

Word Origin for sovereign