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View synonyms for sovereign

sovereign

[ sov-rin, sov-er-in, suhv- ]

noun

  1. a monarch; a king, queen, or other supreme ruler.

    Synonyms: potentate, empress, emperor

  2. a person who has supreme power or authority.
  3. a group or body of persons or a state having sovereign authority.

    Synonyms: government

  4. a gold coin of the United Kingdom, equal to one pound sterling: went out of circulation after 1914.


adjective

  1. belonging to or characteristic of a sovereign or sovereign authority; royal.

    Synonyms: queenly, kingly, monarchical, princely, imperial, majestic, regal

  2. having supreme rank, power, or authority.
  3. supreme; preeminent; indisputable:

    a sovereign right.

    Synonyms: predominant, principal, paramount, chief

  4. greatest in degree; utmost or extreme.
  5. being above all others in character, importance, excellence, etc.
  6. efficacious; potent:

    a sovereign remedy.

    Synonyms: effectual, effective

sovereign

/ ˈsɒvrɪn /

noun

  1. a person exercising supreme authority, esp a monarch
  2. a former British gold coin worth one pound sterling
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. supreme in rank or authority

    a sovereign lord

  2. excellent or outstanding

    a sovereign remedy

  3. of, relating to, or characteristic of a sovereign
  4. independent of outside authority

    a sovereign state

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈsovereignly, adverb
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Other Words From

  • sover·eign·ly adverb
  • non·sover·eign noun adjective
  • non·sover·eign·ly adverb
  • quasi-sover·eign adjective
  • sub·sover·eign noun adjective
  • super·sover·eign adjective noun
  • under·sover·eign noun
  • un·sover·eign adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of sovereign1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English soverain, altered by influence of reign, from Old French soverain, from Vulgar Latin superānus (unrecorded), equivalent to Latin super- super- + -ānus -an
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Word History and Origins

Origin of sovereign1

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

The big difference is that the French arsenal is sovereign – i.e. developed entirely by France – whereas the UK relies on US technical input.

From BBC

Republicans erupted in laughter, because, you know, hearing a supposed leader of the free world threatening a sovereign nation’s land is so funny.

Lesotho's Foreign Affairs Minister Lejone Mpotjoane said it was "shocking" to hear a head of state "refer to another sovereign state in that manner".

From BBC

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted on X that a "sovereign, pro-Western" Ukraine made his country "stronger and safer", adding: "Whoever questions this obvious truth contributes to Putin's triumph."

From BBC

This is a case of full-blown invasion by one sovereign nation of another.

From BBC

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