What does "sovereignty" mean?
The quality or state of being sovereign.; Of a ruler (especially a monarch): supreme authority or dominion over something.
Sovereignty
/ˈsɒvɹənti/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The quality or state of being sovereign.; Of a ruler (especially a monarch): supreme authority or dominion over something.
- Grammar: sovereignty is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: acme, act independently, administration, ascendance.
- Useful contrasts: colonial authority, chechnya, coercion.
- Usage evidence: We must pay attention to the fact that no nation claimed sovereignty over this region.
How to use "sovereignty"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "sovereignty" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "sovereignty" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "sovereignty" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "sovereignty" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "sovereignty" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "acme" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "sovereignty", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The quality or state of being sovereign.; Of a ruler (especially a monarch): supreme authority or dominion over something. countable, uncountable
"[…] Zephyrus the VVeſterne vvind being in loue vvith her [Chloris], and coueting her to vvyfe, gaue her for a dovvrie, the chiefedome and ſoueraigntye of al flovvers and greene herbes, grovving on earth."
- 2 the authority of a state to govern another state wordnet
- 3 The quality or state of being sovereign.; Of a nation or other polity: the state of being able to control resources, make laws independently, and otherwise govern itself without the coercion or concurrence of other polities. broadly, countable, uncountable
"Sovereignty, as a matter of right, appertains to the Nation only, and not to any individual; and a Nation has at all times an inherent indefeaſible right to aboliſh any form of Government it finds inconvenient, and eſtabliſh ſuch as accords vvith its intereſt, diſpoſition, and happineſs."
- 4 government free from external control wordnet
- 5 The quality or state of being sovereign.; Of a person: the liberty to decide one's actions and thoughts. broadly, countable, uncountable
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 royal authority; the dominion of a monarch wordnet
- 7 The quality or state of being sovereign.; Pre-eminent or superior excellence; also, superior ability to achieve something; mastery. countable, uncountable
"[His head,] Wherein by curious ſoueraigntie of Art, / Are fixt his piercing inſtruments of ſight: / Whose fiery circles beare encompaſſed / A heauen of heauenly bodies in their Spheares: […]"
- 8 A territory under the rule of a sovereign; an independent or self-governing nation or other polity. countable
"Theſe Expences […] vvould not for the preſent, Rebus ſic ſtantibus [with things thus standing], become this King, vvhoſe fame and honour (as all other Sovereignties, ſo his in particular) ſtood more upon Reputation than profit; […]"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"We must pay attention to the fact that no nation claimed sovereignty over this region."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "sovereignty"?
Common synonyms include: acme, act independently, administration, ascendance, ascendancy, ascendant.
How do you use "sovereignty" in a sentence?
We must pay attention to the fact that no nation claimed sovereignty over this region.
How do you pronounce "sovereignty"?
Pronounced /ˈsɒvɹənti/.
Etymology
PIE word *upér From Late Middle English sovereynte, souvereynte [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman sovereyneté, soverentee, and Old French soveraineté, souveraineté (modern French souveraineté), from soverain + -té (suffix forming nouns, often denoting a property or quality). Soverain is derived from Vulgar Latin *superānus (“chief; sovereign”), from Latin super (“above; on top of”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *upér (“above, over”)) + -ānus (“suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’, usually denoting a relationship of origin, position, or possession”)). The English word is analysable as sovereign + -ty (suffix forming abstract nouns from adjectives).