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 sense 1
c
: controlling influence
2
: one that is sovereign
especially
: an autonomous state : autonomy sense 2
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
One is at least temporary compromises on dangerous issues of sovereignty or territory, such as between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan, or between India and the PRC, or in the South China Sea.
—Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, agreed to by all spacefaring nations, essentially says no country can claim sovereignty over territory on the Moon.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 26 May 2026
Undoubtedly, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not leave any act of hostility unanswered and will not hesitate in defending Iran's sovereignty.
—Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 26 May 2026
Iran, which says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, sees it as a sovereignty issue and has indicated opposition to that option.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sovereignty
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Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, agreed to by all spacefaring nations, essentially says no country can claim sovereignty over territory on the Moon.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 26 May 2026
Undoubtedly, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not leave any act of hostility unanswered and will not hesitate in defending Iran's sovereignty.
—Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 26 May 2026
Iran, which says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, sees it as a sovereignty issue and has indicated opposition to that option.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 25 May 2026
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. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sovereignty
noun
sov·er·eign·ty
ˈsäv-(ə-)rən-tē
ˈsäv-ərn-,
ˈsəv-
plural sovereignties
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