# sovereignty

/ˈsɑvɹənti/ (US) · /sˈɒvəɹˌɪnti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sovereignty
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. personal or group autonomy

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the right of a person or a specific group to have total control over their own life or choices.

For teachers: the state of being free from external control; individual or collective autonomy in decision-making.

- The movement fights for the sovereignty of indigenous people over their traditional lands.
- Philosophers often discuss bodily sovereignty as the fundamental right of an individual to determine what happens to their own physical person.

### 3. a self-governing state

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a territory or nation that is independent and rules itself.

For teachers: a territory under the rule of a sovereign power; an independent or self-governing nation.

- The island was recognized as a full sovereignty after the treaty was signed.
- The legal dispute centered on whether the region functioned as a functional sovereignty or remained a dependent territory of the empire.

## Examples

- The nation fought hard to regain its sovereignty.
- The treaty was designed to protect the sovereignty of smaller nations against interference from their larger neighbors.
- In a globalized economy, many argue that national sovereignty is increasingly compromised by the influence of international financial institutions and multinational corporations.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.