Home / Dictionary / Sovereign

Sovereign Very Common

Sovereign has 6 different meanings across 2 categories:

Noun · Adjective

Definitions
Noun
1

a nation's ruler or head of state usually by hereditary right

"The new sovereign signed the treaty before addressing the assembled parliament."

2

A monarch; the ruler of a country.

"The sovereign declared that the new laws would take effect immediately across the nation."

In plain English: A sovereign is a ruler who has complete power over their country without anyone else telling them what to do.

"The new sovereign was welcomed by cheering crowds in the capital city."

Verb
1

To rule over as a sovereign.

"The new king will soon begin to rule over the kingdom as its sovereign."

In plain English: To be sovereign is to have complete power over something without any outside control.

"The new government promised to sovereignly manage its own resources without outside interference."

Adjective
1

(of political bodies) not controlled by outside forces

"an autonomous judiciary"

"a sovereign state"

2

greatest in status or authority or power

"a supreme tribunal"

3

Exercising power of rule.

"The sovereign issued a decree ordering all citizens to remain indoors during the storm."

Example Sentences
"The new sovereign was welcomed by cheering crowds in the capital city." noun
"The sovereign of this small island nation recently visited our capital." noun
"Many people believe that personal sovereignty is essential for true freedom." noun
"He felt like a sovereign in his own home after years of traveling abroad." noun
"The new government promised to sovereignly manage its own resources without outside interference." verb
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)

Origin

The word sovereign comes from the Latin super, meaning "above," and originally referred to someone who was supreme or highest in rank. Its modern spelling was shaped by a folk-etymology connection to the word reign.

Rhyming Words
Compare
Sovereign vs