Definition

1. Noun:
   • Supreme power or authority: The full right and power of a governing body to govern itself without any interference from outside sources or bodies.
   • The authority of a state to govern itself or another state: The power of a state to exercise control over its own affairs and its territory.
   • Royal authority; the dominion of a monarch: The status, dominion, or power of a sovereign; royal rank or authority.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The treaty was a violation of the nation's sovereignty.
  • The king's sovereignty was absolute and unquestioned.
  • The debate centered on the sovereignty of individual states within the federation.

Advanced Usage

• "Popular sovereignty": The principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people.
  • The concept of popular sovereignty is a foundation of modern democracy.
• "Parliamentary sovereignty": A principle in some political systems where the legislative body has absolute sovereignty and is supreme over all other government institutions.
  • In the UK, the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty is a key constitutional principle.

Variants and Related Words

• Sovereign (adj): Possessing supreme or ultimate power.
  • The sovereign power resides with the people.
• Sovereign (n): A supreme ruler, especially a monarch.
  • The sovereign addressed the nation.

Synonyms

• Autonomy: The right or condition of self-government.
• Independence: The fact or state of being independent.
• Supremacy: The state or condition of being superior to all others in authority, power, or status.

Related Phrases

• "To assert sovereignty": To state or declare one's supreme authority clearly and forcefully.
  • The new government moved quickly to assert its sovereignty over the entire region.
• "A threat to sovereignty": Something that endangers a state's supreme authority.
  • Many considered the economic sanctions a threat to national sovereignty.

Related Idioms

• "Sovereignty of the individual": The ethical concept that individuals have the ultimate authority over their own choices and lives.
  • The philosopher argued for the absolute sovereignty of the individual in matters of conscience.

Noun

1. the authority of a state to govern another state
2. royal authority; the dominion of a monarch
3. government free from external control