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sovereignty

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

noun

plural

sovereignties

  1. the quality or state of being sovereign, or of having supreme power or authority.

  2. the status, dominion, power, or authority of a sovereign; royal rank or position; royalty.

  3. supreme and independent power or authority in government as possessed or claimed by a state or community.

  4. rightful status, independence, or prerogative.

  5. a sovereign or independent state, community, or political unit.

sovereignty British  
/ ˈsɒvrəntɪ /

noun

  1. supreme and unrestricted power, as of a state

  2. the position, dominion, or authority of a sovereign

  3. 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
sovereignty Cultural  

  1. 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.

Other Word Forms

  • self-sovereignty noun
  • supersovereignty noun

Etymology

Origin of sovereignty

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English soverainte, from Anglo-French sovereynete, from Old French soverainete, equivalent to soverain sovereign + -ete -ty 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“The AGA strongly supports this bipartisan effort, led by senators Schiff and Curtis, to uphold state and tribal sovereignty and protect consumers by ensuring sports- and gambling-related contracts are prohibited.”

From MarketWatch

The tension between the U.S. commerce-driven society and the sovereignty of our trading partners is what dictates our relationship with nations rich in natural resources.

From Los Angeles Times

They frame this as about defending their sovereignty; that their actions are reactions to Pakistan.

From BBC

The Syrian foreign ministry denounced the attack as "an outrageous assault on Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity" and called Israel's justification "flimsy pretexts and fabricated excuses".

From BBC

They pledged to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Rwanda would disengage its forces and lift "defensive measures... in defined areas in DR Congo's territory", the statement says.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.