sovereignty
noun
sov·er·eign·ty
ˈsä-v(ə-)rən-tē 
-vərn-tē,
also ˈsə-
variants
or less commonly sovranty
plural sovereignties also sovranties
1
a
: supreme power especially over a body politic
b
: freedom from external control : autonomy
c
: controlling influence
2
: one that is sovereign
especially
: an autonomous state
3
obsolete
: supreme excellence or an example of it
Examples of sovereignty in a Sentence
Nor was the sovereignty of the Native Hawaiian race recognized at the time Hawaii became a state.
—
Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review, 18 July 2005
Cesaire's wrenching chant of self-affirmation announced a new era of intellectual and cultural sovereignty for black writers in French.
—Lila Azam Zanganeh, New York Times Book Review, 12 June 2005
The position plunged him into a supremely complicated religious and political game. Throughout Europe the old order of divinely sanctioned kingdoms was battling models of popular sovereignty and citizenship inspired by the Enlightenment, the French Revolution and the adolescent U.S.
—David Van Biema, Time, 4 Sept. 2000
upon leaving home she felt that she had achieved sovereignty for the first time in her life
as parts of the same sovereignty, the states should not enact laws intended to harm one another economically
Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review, 18 July 2005
Cesaire's wrenching chant of self-affirmation announced a new era of intellectual and cultural sovereignty for black writers in French.
—Lila Azam Zanganeh, New York Times Book Review, 12 June 2005
The position plunged him into a supremely complicated religious and political game. Throughout Europe the old order of divinely sanctioned kingdoms was battling models of popular sovereignty and citizenship inspired by the Enlightenment, the French Revolution and the adolescent U.S.
—David Van Biema, Time, 4 Sept. 2000
upon leaving home she felt that she had achieved sovereignty for the first time in her life
as parts of the same sovereignty, the states should not enact laws intended to harm one another economically
Recent Examples on the Web
The country's current head of state, President Joseph Aoun, is an independent who has both called for Hezbollah to disarm and for Israel to respect Lebanese sovereignty.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
Leaders of Ukraine, meanwhile, are pushing to maintain independence and sovereignty.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
Circularity is often framed as a sustainability issue, but it is fundamentally tied to resource security and economic sovereignty.
—Rana Hajirasouli, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
And through radical self-trust, culturally rooted support, and the power of storytelling, Black birthing people are creating a new legacy where joy, safety, and sovereignty are no longer revolutionary.
—Stephanie Long, Essence, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sovereignty
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Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
Leaders of Ukraine, meanwhile, are pushing to maintain independence and sovereignty.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
Circularity is often framed as a sustainability issue, but it is fundamentally tied to resource security and economic sovereignty.
—Rana Hajirasouli, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
And through radical self-trust, culturally rooted support, and the power of storytelling, Black birthing people are creating a new legacy where joy, safety, and sovereignty are no longer revolutionary.
—Stephanie Long, Essence, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sovereignty
Cite this Entry
“Sovereignty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sovereignty. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sovereignty
noun
sov·er·eign·ty
ˈsäv-(ə-)rən-tē
ˈsäv-ərn-,
ˈsəv-
plural sovereignties
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