sovereignty
Americannoun
plural
sovereignties-
the quality or state of being sovereign, or of having supreme power or authority.
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the status, dominion, power, or authority of a sovereign; royal rank or position; royalty.
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supreme and independent power or authority in government as possessed or claimed by a state or community.
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rightful status, independence, or prerogative.
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a sovereign or independent state, community, or political unit.
noun
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supreme and unrestricted power, as of a state
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the position, dominion, or authority of a sovereign
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an independent state
Other Word Forms
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
Explanation
Sovereignty can describe the power of one state or thing over another or the freedom a state or thing has to control itself. Look closely at the word sovereignty, and you will see it is all about who reigns, or rules. Although sovereignty is usually used in a political sense — particularly the power of nations, it can be used to describe personal control as well: If your mother insists upon your wearing wool hats in summertime, you might declare complete sovereignty over your wardrobe. The word is also occasionally used for the power of royalty, like a queen.
Vocabulary lists containing sovereignty
The American Civil War
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Vocabulary from The Articles of Confederation
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Human Geography - Middle School
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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.
OTTAWA—Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the country needs to double the capacity of its electricity grid by 2050, a project with a trillion-dollar price tag but necessary to ensure the country’s sovereignty and prosperity.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
He has flipped major rulings on federal regulation, religious liberty, and tribal sovereignty.
From Slate • May 13, 2026
It also reportedly includes a demand for compensation for war damage and an emphasis on Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
From BBC • May 11, 2026
Active service members told the BBC during a recent Arctic sovereignty and security operation in Canada's northern territory of Nunavut that the new funding is welcome and - in some cases - long overdue.
From BBC • May 9, 2026
The imperatives of their collaboration, plus the need to present a united front against the Federalists, took precedence over their incompatible notions of where sovereignty resided in the American republic.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
