sovereign immunity

noun

: the absolute immunity of a sovereign government from being sued

The ancient common law doctrine of sovereign immunity holds that the government cannot be sued without the government's consent.

—David Burnham

Examples of sovereign immunity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Supreme Court reversed a lower court's ruling in 2024 that CIMEX could invoke the sovereign immunity defense. — Jan Wolfe, USA Today, 23 June 2026

Under the sovereign immunity law, the county paid $200,000 but needs legislative direction to pay the remaining $4.1 million. — Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 12 June 2026

The plaintiffs agreed that some of the claims must be dismissed because of sovereign immunity. — Idaho Statesman, 21 Apr. 2026

The Biden administration granted bin Salman sovereign immunity in 2022 after King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud named bin Salman prime minister. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026

Because of the sovereign immunity cap, Joynt went after the county’s insurer, Star Insurance Company, for most of the money. — Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026

The federal government and its employees are generally shielded by sovereign immunity from being sued for official acts. — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1780, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sovereign immunity

• autoimmunity
• importunity
• opportunity
• community
• disunity
• impunity
• munity
• unity

Legal Definition

sovereign immunity

see also:

immunity