sovereignty

noun

sov·​er·​eign·​ty ˈsä-v(ə-)rən-tē 

-vərn-tē,

 also  ˈsə-

variants or less commonly sovranty

plural sovereignties also sovranties

1

a

: supreme power especially over a body politic

b

: freedom from external control : autonomy

c

: controlling influence

2

: one that is sovereign

especially : an autonomous state

3

obsolete : supreme excellence or an example of it

Synonyms

• autonomy
• freedom
• independence
• independency
• liberty
• self-determination
• self-governance
• self-government

Examples of sovereignty in a Sentence

Nor was the sovereignty of the Native Hawaiian race recognized at the time Hawaii became a state. —Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review, 18 July 2005

Cesaire's wrenching chant of self-affirmation announced a new era of intellectual and cultural sovereignty for black writers in French. —Lila Azam Zanganeh, New York Times Book Review, 12 June 2005

The position plunged him into a supremely complicated religious and political game. Throughout Europe the old order of divinely sanctioned kingdoms was battling models of popular sovereignty and citizenship inspired by the Enlightenment, the French Revolution and the adolescent U.S. —David Van Biema, Time, 4 Sept. 2000

upon leaving home she felt that she had achieved sovereignty for the first time in her life

as parts of the same sovereignty, the states should not enact laws intended to harm one another economically

Recent Examples on the Web

But some analysts saw his announcement about the French troop withdrawal as an attempt to garner support from a public that has become increasingly critical of the French military presence, which is seen as a violation of sovereignty. —Ruth MacLean, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025

Incorporating bitcoin into the national balance sheet emerges as a viable option to mitigate inflationary pressures, enhance financial stability, and reinforce economic sovereignty. —Becca Bratcher, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024

The history of slavery, as well as persistent meddling in Haiti’s sovereignty since 1804, have caused hunger to be a unifying experience for the nation’s Black masses. —Nyya Toussaint / Made By History, TIME, 31 Dec. 2024

Their effort to reclaim their ancestral territories is radical in the context of history but by regaining control over their land, the Shinnecock are not only securing a buffer against rising seas but also reasserting their cultural sovereignty. —Umair Irfan, Vox, 28 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English soverainte, from Anglo-French sovereinté, from soverein — see sovereign entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing sovereignty

• popular sovereignty
• squatter sovereignty

Kids Definition

sovereignty

noun

sov·​er·​eign·​ty ˈsäv-(ə-)rən-tē 

ˈsäv-ərn-,

ˈsəv-

plural sovereignties

1

a

: supreme power especially over a politically organized unit : dominion

b

: freedom from outside control : autonomy

c

: the condition of being sovereign or a sovereign

2

: one (as a country) that is sovereign

Legal Definition

sovereignty

noun

sov·​er·​eign·​ty

ˈsä-vrən-tē, ˈsə-, -və-rən-

plural sovereignties

1

a

: supreme power especially over a body politic

b

: freedom from external control : autonomy

2

: one that is sovereign

especially : an autonomous state