noun
sovereignty
SOV-ruhn-tee
noun
1
Supreme authority, especially the power of a nation to govern itself without outside control.
"The country fought hard to preserve its sovereignty after the war."
"Debates over regional sovereignty continue to divide the union."
How to Use Sovereignty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe right and power of a country (or person) to rule itself without outside interference.
Common pairings
national sovereignty
assert sovereignty
threat to sovereignty
Word Forms
sovereignties plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “sovereignty”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The country fought hard to preserve its _____ after the war.
Etymology
From Old French soveraineté, from soverain ("sovereign") plus the noun-forming suffix -té.