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
Even after the restoration of full sovereignty with German reunification in 1990, German officials still trod lightly.
—Mark I. Vail, The Conversation, 16 May 2025
As a result, its ability to translate regulatory ambitions into digital sovereignty is limited.
—Ian Bremmer, Foreign Affairs, 13 May 2025
Addressing these challenges is essential for NTNs to support next-generation applications and ensure global digital sovereignty.
—Iri Trashanki, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
The Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) still declares sovereignty over the region.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sovereignty
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Mark I. Vail, The Conversation, 16 May 2025
As a result, its ability to translate regulatory ambitions into digital sovereignty is limited.
—Ian Bremmer, Foreign Affairs, 13 May 2025
Addressing these challenges is essential for NTNs to support next-generation applications and ensure global digital sovereignty.
—Iri Trashanki, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
The Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) still declares sovereignty over the region.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 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 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sovereignty
noun
sov·er·eign·ty
ˈsäv-(ə-)rən-tē
ˈsäv-ərn-,
ˈsəv-
plural sovereignties
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