sovereign
n. countablen. a king, queen, or other person who has the highest power in a country. It can also mean a country that is independent and rules itself.
n. a supreme ruler, especially a monarch; also used to refer to a self-governing state. Historically, it designated a gold coin of the United Kingdom.
The sovereign addressed the nation during the crisis.
The treaty was signed by the sovereign of each nation to ensure lasting peace and mutual recognition of borders.
The transition from absolute monarchy to a system where the people are sovereign represents a fundamental shift in the history of political philosophy.
From Middle English sovereyn, from Old French soverain (whence also modern French souverain), from Vulgar Latin *superānus (compare Italian sovrano, Spanish soberano) from Latin super (“above”). Spelling influenced by folk-etymology association with reign. Doublet of soprano, from the same Latin root via Italian. Doublet of souverain. See also suzerain, foreign.
Often used as a title or to describe the person holding ultimate authority in a state.