Definition of 'sovereign'

Word Frequency

sovereign

(sɒvrɪn )

Word forms: plural sovereigns

1. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]

A sovereign state or country is independent and not under the authority of any other country.

Lithuania and Armenia signed a treaty in Vilnius recognising each other as independent sovereign states.

The Federation declared itself to be a sovereign republic.

Synonyms: independent, autonomous, self-governing, free More Synonyms of sovereign

2. adjective

Sovereign is used to describe the person or institution that has the highest power in a country.

Sovereign power will continue to lie with the Supreme People's Assembly.

3. countable noun

A sovereign is a king, queen, or other royal ruler of a country.

The British sovereign is also the head of the Church of England.

Synonyms: monarch, ruler, king or queen, chief More Synonyms of sovereign

More Synonyms of sovereign

Video: pronunciation of
sovereign

sovereign in British English

(ˈsɒvrɪn )

noun

a person exercising supreme authority, esp a monarch

a former British gold coin worth one pound sterling

adjective

supreme in rank or authority

a sovereign lord

excellent or outstanding

a sovereign remedy

of, relating to, or characteristic of a sovereign

independent of outside authority

a sovereign state

Derived forms

sovereignly (ˈsovereignly)

adverb

Word origin

C13: from Old French soverain, from Vulgar Latin superānus (unattested), from Latin super above; also influenced by reign

Word Frequency

sovereign in American English

(ˈsɑvrən ; ˈsɑvərɪn ; occas. ˈsʌvrən ; ˈsʌvərɪn )

adjective

above or superior to all others; chief; greatest; supreme

supreme in power, rank, or authority

of or holding the position of ruler; royal; reigning

independent of all others

a sovereign state

excellent; outstanding

very effectual, as a cure or remedy

noun

a person who possesses sovereign authority or power; specif., a monarch or ruler

a British gold coin valued at 20 shillings or one pound sterling, no longer minted for circulation

Derived forms

sovereignly (ˈsovereignly)

adverb

Word origin

ME soveraine < OFr < VL *superanus < L super, above, over

Example sentences including
sovereign

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The plane and anything inside it remains the sovereign territory of the foreign military.One must trust and be loyal to the sovereign power. Greece would have to leave the euro and declare a full default on its sovereign debts.Country risk is a broader concept than either political risk or sovereign risk.The loss of a treasured chunk of sovereign territory is not its most pressing concern.Can investors protect themselves against governments defaulting on their sovereign debt? Argentina is two weeks from defaulting on its sovereign debt.Any downgrade in a sovereign credit rating will push up the interest that a country must pay on its debts.The defence industry also provides the country with sovereign capabilities such as nuclear submarines that are needed for national security.If a gold sovereign is a dud pledge, what else can they offer?