adjective
Common
sovereign
SOV-rihn
Sovereign (adjective) means having supreme power or independent authority. Example: “Each member country remains a sovereign nation with its own laws and government.”
adjective
1
Having supreme power or independent authority.
"Each member country remains a sovereign nation with its own laws and government."
"Only a sovereign power can sign treaties on behalf of its people."
"The treaty recognized the nation as a fully sovereign state."
noun
1
A king, queen, or other supreme ruler.
"The sovereign opened the new session of parliament with a short speech."
"Crowds lined the streets to see the sovereign pass in a golden carriage."
"The sovereign addressed the nation on Christmas Day."
How to use sovereign
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSupreme in power or authority — either a ruler, or a nation that governs itself independently.
Easily confused with
suzerain
Common pairings
sovereign state
sovereign power
sovereign nation
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- sovereigns
- Past tense
- sovereigned
- Comparative
- more sovereign
- Superlative
- most sovereign
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Each member country remains a _____ nation with its own laws and government.
Etymology
From Old French soverain, from Vulgar Latin *superanus ("above others"), from Latin super ("above"). The modern spelling was reshaped by folk association with "reign," even though the words come from different roots.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sovereign
See all rhymes for sovereign →Frequently asked questions
What does “sovereign” mean?
The word “sovereign” means having supreme power or independent authority. In plain terms, supreme in power or authority — either a ruler, or a nation that governs itself independently.
How do you pronounce “sovereign”?
“Sovereign” is pronounced SOV-rihn (/ˈsɑv(ə)ɹɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “sovereign” in a sentence?
Here is “sovereign” used in a sentence: “The treaty recognized the nation as a fully sovereign state.”
What is another word for “sovereign”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sovereign” include autonomous and supreme.
What part of speech is “sovereign”?
Depending on how it is used, “sovereign” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “sovereign” come from?
The word “sovereign” comes from Vulgar Latin. From Old French soverain, from Vulgar Latin *superanus ("above others"), from Latin super ("above"). The modern spelling was reshaped by folk association with "reign," even though the words come from different roots.
Is “sovereign” a common word?
“Sovereign” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sovereign” have?
“Sovereign” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having supreme power or independent authority.
What is the difference between "sovereign" and "monarch"?
A "monarch" is specifically a king, queen, or emperor who reigns, while a "sovereign" is any supreme ruler or, more broadly, anything holding supreme power or independent authority. Every monarch is a sovereign, but a sovereign can also be a state or governing body rather than a single person.
What is a "sovereign state"?
In "sovereign state," "sovereign" is an adjective meaning fully self-governing and free from outside control. A sovereign state holds supreme authority over its own territory and laws and is not subject to another power.
What is the difference between "sovereign" and "sovereignty"?
"Sovereign" is an adjective or noun describing who or what holds supreme power, while "sovereignty" is the abstract noun for that power or authority itself. A country is sovereign because it possesses sovereignty over its own affairs.
