Dictionary
sovereignty
noun sov·er·eign·ty \ˈsä-v(ə-)rən-tē, -vərn-tē also ˈsə-\
: unlimited power over a country
: a country's independent authority and the right to govern itself
plural sov·er·eign·ties
Full Definition of SOVEREIGNTY
1
obsolete : supreme excellence or an example of it
2
a : supreme power especially over a body politic b : freedom from external control : autonomy c : controlling influence
3
: one that is sovereign; especially : an autonomous state
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Variants of SOVEREIGNTY
sov·er·eign·ty also sov·ran·ty \ˈsä-v(ə-)rən-tē, -vərn-tē also ˈsə-\
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Examples of SOVEREIGNTY
- 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
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Origin of SOVEREIGNTY
Middle English soverainte, from Anglo-French sovereinté, from soverein (see 2sovereign)
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to SOVEREIGNTY
- Synonyms
- autonomy, independence, independency, liberty, self-determination, self-governance, self-government, freedom (also sovranty)
- Antonyms
- dependence (also dependance), heteronomy, subjection, unfreedom
Other Government and Politics Terms
SOVEREIGNTY Defined for Kids
sovereignty
noun sov·er·eign·ty \ˈsä-və-rən-tē, ˈsä-vrən-\
plural sov·er·eign·ties
Definition of SOVEREIGNTY for Kids
1
: supreme power especially over a political unit (as a country)
2
: a country's independent authority and right of self-control
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