sovereignty

[ sov-rin-tee, suhv- ]

noun

, plural sov·er·eign·ties.

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

/ ˈsɒvrəntɪ /

noun

1. supreme and unrestricted power, as of a state
2. the position, dominion, or authority of a sovereign
3. an independent state

sovereignty

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 Words From

• self-sover·eign·ty noun
• super·sover·eign·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sovereignty¹

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

On Monday, Smotrich said that 2025 would be "the year of sovereignty" in the West Bank, adding that he had instructed Israeli authorities to begin preparatory work for annexation of the occupied territory.

From BBC

It is contentious as it was written in both English and Māori - which had only been a spoken language until colonisation - and the two versions contain fundamental differences when it comes to issues such as sovereignty.

From BBC

Other aspects include, once those leaders are given temporary powers to represent us—we hand over our sovereignty to them for a temporary period to represent us—they’re constrained by checks and balances, by the rule of law, and by the protection of individual rights in order to ensure that, at the end of the day, our granting to them of our sovereignty as “we, the people,” is temporary and we get to take it back at the end of their term in office.

From Slate

Under the deal, the UK will hand over sovereignty of the islands while retaining control over a joint UK-US military base on the island of Diego Garcia, for an "initial period" of 99 years.

From BBC

The UK government says the accord, which it hopes to ratify next year, will end legal uncertainty over the islands following international rulings backing Mauritian claims to sovereignty.

From BBC

Related Words

• dominance
• jurisdiction
• supremacy