sovereignty
English · Thesaurus
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sovereignty
- /ˈsɒvɹənti/ UK
- /-ɹɪn-/ UK
- /ˈsɑv(ə)ɹənti/ US
- [-ɾi] US
Where it comes from
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).
noun sovereignties · soveraigntie · sovranty
-
Of a ruler (especially a monarch): supreme authority or dominion over something.
[…] 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.
Similar: diadem · Opposite: nonsovereignty
-
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.
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.
Similar: autarchy, independence, nationality, nationhood · Opposite: nonsovereignty
-
Of a person: the liberty to decide one's actions and thoughts.
Opposite: nonsovereignty
-
Pre-eminent or superior excellence; also, superior ability to achieve something; mastery.
[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: […]
Opposite: nonsovereignty
- A territory under the rule of a sovereign; an independent or self-governing nation or other polity. 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; […]
Similar: sovereigndom, sovereignhood, sovereignness, sovereignship
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: reign, hegemony, statehood, sovereign, jurisdiction, lordship, rule, autonomy, authority, domination, dominance, integrity, primacy, predominance, supremacy, self-sufficiency
noun
Similar: sovereigndom, sovereignhood, sovereignness, sovereignship
Translations
Every language
noun of a ruler (especially a monarch): supreme authority or dominion over something
| Português | soberania, autoridade |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Souveränität, höchste Gewalt, Oberherrschaft |
| Italiano | onnipotenza, padronanza, pieno controllo |
noun 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 concurre
| Español | soberanía |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 주권 jugwon |
| 日本語 | 主権 shuken |
| 中文 | 主權 /主权 zhǔquán |
| हिन्दी | प्रभुता prabhutā, संप्रभुता samprabhutā |
| Português | soberania |
| Français | souveraineté |
| Deutsch | Souveränität, Eigenstaatlichkeit, Eigenständigkeit, Hoheit, Hoheitsgewalt, Landeshoheit |
| Italiano | sovranità |
| Ελληνικά | κυριαρχία kyriarchía |
| Română | suveranitate |
| Русский | суверените́т suverenitét |
| Tiếng Việt | chủ quyền |
| العربية | سِيَادَة siyāda, حَاكِمِيَّة ḥākimiyya |
| עברית | סוּבֶרֶנִיּוּת suvereniyút, ריבונות \ רִבּוֹנוּת ribonút |
noun of a person: the liberty to decide one’s actions and thoughts
| Português | arbítrio |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Souveränität, Eigenständigkeit, Selbstbestimmung |
| Italiano | arbitrio |
Talk about this word "sovereignty." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/sovereignty. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. sovereignty. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/sovereignty "sovereignty." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/sovereignty.Cite this
@misc{sovereignty_2026,
title = {sovereignty},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/sovereignty},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
