sovereign

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

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.

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

Related formssov·er·eign·ly, adverbnon·sov·er·eign, noun, adjectivenon·sov·er·eign·ly, adverbqua·si-sov·er·eign, adjectivesub·sov·er·eign, noun, adjectivesu·per·sov·er·eign, adjective, nounun·der·sov·er·eign, nounun·sov·er·eign, adjective

Synonyms for sovereign

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sovereign ON THESAURUS.COM

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

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

Related Words for sovereign

autonomous, unlimited, absolute, monarch, independent, ascendant, royal, imperial, chief, ruling, principal, king, majesty, ruler, queen, autocrat, prince, empress, potentate, emperor

Examples from the Web for sovereign

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples of sovereign

On the invasion of William, as we have seen, it was in the possession of Edwin, sovereign of Deira.
The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook
"Be sovereign of Greece, and then enjoy ourselves," said the king.
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 10, Issue 267, August 4, 1827
Various
What is left for the sovereign power to decide on, if this right be denied him?
A Theological-Political Treatise [Part IV]
Benedict of Spinoza
Rumi-naui himself enters and receives the thanks of his sovereign.
Apu Ollantay
Anonymous
It was quite like being received by a sovereign, Decatur imagined.
Quaint Courtships
Various

British Dictionary definitions for sovereign

sovereign

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

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.

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.