sovereignty

noun

ˈsä-v(ə-)rən-tē How to pronounce sovereignty (audio)
variants also sovranty
Definition of sovereigntynext
1
as in autonomy
the state of being free from the control or power of another upon leaving home she felt that she had achieved sovereignty for the first time in her life

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2
as in nation
a body of people composed of one or more nationalities usually with its own territory and government as parts of the same sovereignty, the states should not enact laws intended to harm one another economically

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3
as in dominion
controlling power or influence over others the gradual sovereignty of English as the language of international communication

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sovereignty His persistent claims raised sovereignty concerns and pushback from Greenlandic and Danish leaders and heightened tensions among NATO allies. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026 Isar didn’t obtain a substantial up-front investment from the German government to get off the ground, but German leaders are keen to frame the company’s successful launch as key to European sovereignty. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Sep. 2026 Argentina, which has long claimed sovereignty over the Falklands, fought a brief and bitter war over them against Britain in 1982. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026 Lokotah works for Sunlight Media Collective, documenting stories at the intersection of Wabanaki sovereignty and environmental justice. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sovereignty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sovereignty
  1. autonomy
  2. nation
  3. dominion
  4. independence
  5. state
  6. supremacy
  7. freedom
  8. country
Noun
  • As the author points out, our autonomy has been removed from us piece by piece.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Will banning phones bring real-world clarity and connection to kids’ lives, or deprive them of one of their last routes to autonomy in a claustrophobic world?
    — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of autonomy
Noun
  • Its interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the former al-Qa’eda militant who led the rebel offensive that overthrew dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, has been struggling to rebuild a nation devastated by almost 14 years of civil war.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Asian food Lucknow is considered by many Indians as one of the country’s greatest culinary capitals, but beyond the South Asian nation’s borders, the city has remained largely absent from global conversations about food.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of nation
Noun
  • Faced with the dominion of the identical copy, some modern artists chose to celebrate it; others took a more critical, even antagonistic stance.
    — Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Propelling themselves through the 00s, iconic franchises continued to thrive with both Star Wars and Star Trek maintaining their dominion over sci-fi cinema.
    — Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of dominion
Noun
  • Canadians hear that, see his actions and believe that their country's independence is at risk, Armstrong says.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 8 Sep. 2026
  • On social media, Combs herself often shares content about divorce, speaking about the importance of financial independence and prenuptial agreements.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of independence
Noun
  • Singapore pays its political leaders high salaries to attract talent and deter graft, but the issue is thorny in the city-state, where the median wage worker made S$5,775 ($736) a month in 2025.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Those are notable numbers for Turek in a state dominated by the GOP for the past decade; Turek has an edge among independent voters and a positive favorability rating compared to Hinson, who is viewed more negatively.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of state
Noun
  • The battle for super-luxury supremacy in the skies is moving further back in the cabin.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In gratifying the left, the Warren Court debilitated the long tradition of opposing judicial supremacy.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of supremacy
Noun
  • The grand scale of cosmic time reminds her (and us) that social mores and strictures are tiny, meaningless things, that what matters is passion and freedom.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Mason eventually petitioned for her freedom in court and was freed in 1856 along with several members of her family.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of freedom
Noun
  • Many higher-income countries, though challenged by the disruption, have cushioned the blow by tapping strategic reserves or using their financial and political clout to secure emergency supplies.
    — Nana Menya Ayensu, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Bridgespan’s report finds that families in middle-income countries are more likely to administer their own programs than those in higher-income countries.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of country

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sovereignties
sovereignty
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Cite this Entry

“Sovereignty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sovereignty. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sovereignty

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sovereignty

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