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 Levinson envisions a future where manufacturing facilities are on both coasts, achieving true domestic supply chain sovereignty. — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026 That wider perspective matters, because sovereignty isn't achieved simply by dragging every service into the spare room. — New Atlas, 5 Aug. 2026 The operation was criticized by the Organization of African Unity — the African Union’s predecessor organization — which saw the raid as a violation of Uganda’s sovereignty. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026 Tehran has repeatedly sought to claim sovereignty over the channel and has targeted vessels that do not adhere to stipulations, compounding uneven oil prices triggered by months of US strikes and retaliatory Iranian attacks. — Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 31 July 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
  • The mission-management and autonomy components communicated through OMS and UCI rather than through custom point-to-point interfaces.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Here's where autonomy stops being binary and starts being a loop.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of autonomy
Noun
  • Michael Damianos said the East Mediterranean is fast becoming an alternative energy source for European nations as Russia’s war in Ukraine and upheaval in the Middle East compel the continent to seek out new sources.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Spain’s index score still falls within the upper echelons of an individualist culture, but is lower than some of its fellow major footballing nations, including France, Germany, Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and the Netherlands.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of nation
Noun
  • The preview opens with an introduction to demon king Ravana asserting his dominion across the three realms of heaven, earth, and the underworld.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 July 2026
  • Historical roots As Roberts’ majority opinion demonstrates, the definition of citizenship that Americans inherited from Britain and the common law included everyone born in a place where the king’s dominion extended.
    — Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
Definition of dominion
Noun
  • Some 13,000 people died in Kosovo's war, which saw ethnic Albanians launch a rebellion to gain independence from Serbia.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Part of its independence means that the mission does not participate in the Homeless Management Information System, a database maintained by LAHSA to track homeless people engaged with the system.
    — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of independence
Noun
  • Tim Evans/Reuters Voters in six states on Tuesday decided which candidates will face off in November in House and Senate races that could determine whether the balance of power will shift in the next Congress.
    — Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • This forced the material into a single-domain state that could be measured more clearly.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of state
Noun
  • The Atlanta Braves are surging in the NL East, emerging as a formidable challenger to the Dodgers for National League supremacy.
    — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The department argued that several Connecticut laws conflict with the federal statute and thus are unconstitutional under the Constitution’s supremacy clause.
    — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of supremacy
Noun
  • But the Cochin Jewish community's complex history includes both religious freedom and internal divisions over class and colorism.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Even veterans given considerable resources and artistic freedom for a live-action feature may find their specific sensibilities are just better suited to animation.
    — Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of freedom
Noun
  • Marina was adamant to the federal agents that her former husband could never have given secrets to another country.
    — Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Our country has used science to make society safer and healthier over time, improving lives, making jobs safer, and preventing early deaths.
    — Dr. Marianne Parshley, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of country

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Cite this Entry

“Sovereignty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sovereignty. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sovereignty

Nglish: Translation of sovereignty for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sovereignty

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