sovereignty
UK: /ˈsɒv.rɪn.ti/ | US: /ˈsɑːv.rɪn.ti/
n. supreme power or authority (of a state or governing body)
n. the authority of a state to govern itself or another state
n. the status of being a sovereign entity
sovereignty = sovereign<supreme ruler> + ty<noun suffix>
- sovereign: Derived from Old French soverain, meaning "highest, supreme, chief," which in turn comes from Vulgar Latin superānus (from Latin super, "above").
- ty: A noun-forming suffix indicating state or condition (from Latin -tās, via Old French -té).
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin super ("above"), emphasizing superiority or supremacy. Over time, soverain in Old French evolved to denote a ruler with ultimate authority. The suffix -ty was added to form the abstract noun, reflecting the concept of supreme power or autonomous governance. The term historically linked to monarchs but now broadly applies to states or governing bodies.
The treaty recognized the country's full sovereignty over its territory.
Debates about national sovereignty often arise in discussions of globalization.
The king asserted his sovereignty by rejecting external interference.
Indigenous tribes fought to regain sovereignty over their ancestral lands.
The court ruled that the law violated the principle of state sovereignty.