Sovereign
/ˈsɒvrɪn/
Definitions
3 meaningsA supreme ruler; a monarch.
/ˈsɒvrɪn/
A supreme ruler, especially a monarch.
The sovereign's speech addressed the pressing issues of the nation.
💡 Simply: Imagine a ruler, like the king in a fairy tale, who has the ultimate say in everything. That's a sovereign! Like, "The sovereign decided the rules for the kingdom."
👶 For kids: A sovereign is like the boss of a country, like a king or queen.
More Examples
The people revered their sovereign for his wisdom and fairness.
The sovereign held absolute power over the kingdom.
How It's Used
"The Queen is the sovereign of the United Kingdom."
"The sovereign's power was absolute in medieval times."
Possessing supreme power or authority; independent of any other state; self-governing.
/ˈsɒvrɪn/
Possessing supreme or ultimate power.
A sovereign state can govern itself without external interference.
💡 Simply: Imagine a country that makes its own rules and doesn't have to answer to anyone else. That country is sovereign. Like, "The country declared itself a sovereign nation."
👶 For kids: When something is sovereign, it means it's in charge of itself and doesn't have to listen to anyone else.
More Examples
The court recognized the sovereign right of the individual to privacy.
The sovereign body of citizens voted on the new law.
How It's Used
"Each nation is sovereign within its own borders."
"The people are the sovereign authority in a democracy."
A former British gold coin worth one pound sterling.
/ˈsɒvrɪn/
The antique was worth a considerable sum, and was paid for with multiple sovereigns.
💡 Simply: If you’ve ever seen an old English gold coin called a sovereign, it was worth one pound! They used these for money back in the day. Like, "He paid for the painting with a sovereign."
👶 For kids: A sovereign is a special gold coin that people used a long time ago.
More Examples
He collected antique coins, and had several rare sovereigns in his collection.
The sovereign was a symbol of British wealth and power.
How It's Used
"He paid for the antique with a sovereign."
"The sovereign was a standard unit of currency in the British Empire."
Synonyms
Emperor
King
Monarch
Queen
Ruler
Absolute
Autonomous
Independent
Currency
Pound
Idioms & expressions
sovereign immunity
The principle that a sovereign government cannot be sued in its own courts or in the courts of another sovereign without its consent.
"The country invoked sovereign immunity to dismiss the lawsuit."
a sovereign remedy
Something that is able to heal or cure something effectively
"The doctor recommended a new medicine as a sovereign remedy for the disease."
From Old French *soverain* (sovereign, supreme, paramount), from Late Latin *superānus* (supreme), from Latin *super* (above).
The term 'sovereign' has been used since the Middle Ages to refer to supreme rulers, with its meaning evolving to encompass independence and self-governance.
Memory tip
Think of a SOVEREIGN, like a king or queen, who rules over their land.