Sovereignty
/ˈsɒvrɪnti/
Definitions
Supreme power or authority, especially a state's ability to govern itself without external interference.
/ˈsɒvrɪnti/
Supreme power or authority
The country's sovereignty was threatened by the invasion.
💡 Simply: Imagine a country that gets to make all its own rules without anyone else telling it what to do. That's sovereignty! It's like having the ultimate say in everything that happens within your borders, without needing permission from someone else.
👶 For kids: It means a country can make its own rules and decisions all by itself.
More Examples
The people fought to maintain their sovereignty and independence.
The treaty recognized the sovereignty of the newly formed nation.
How It's Used
"The nation's sovereignty must be protected at all costs."
"International law recognizes the sovereignty of independent states."
Idioms & expressions
national sovereignty
The supreme power and authority of a nation-state to govern itself.
"The debate centered on the balance between international cooperation and national sovereignty."
From Old French "souveraineté" (superiority, supreme power), derived from "soverain" (sovereign), ultimately from Latin "superanus" (supreme, above). The term emerged in the context of the development of nation-states and the concept of supreme authority within a territory.
The concept of sovereignty gained prominence in the 16th and 17th centuries with the rise of nation-states and was significantly debated by political philosophers like Jean Bodin.
Memory tip
Think of a king (sovereign) who has absolute power (sovereignty).