sovereign
Noun pluralsovereigns
Pluralsovereigns
- 1Having the power to rule, like a country that makes its own laws.
The small island became a sovereign country after many years of being ruled from far away.
A sovereign nation can choose its own leaders.
UsageOften in sovereign nation or sovereign state.
Similarindependent, autonomous, self-governing
- 2Having the highest power, with no one above.
The king had sovereign power, and nobody could tell him no.
In the story, the dragon is the sovereign ruler of the whole land.
UsageOften in sovereign power.
Similarsupreme, absolute, ultimate, paramount
Oppositesubordinate
- 3
- 4Given out, owned, or promised by a country's government, especially in money matters, as in sovereign debt.
The country's sovereign debt has grown so large that it struggles to pay the interest.
Some oil-rich countries save their profits in a sovereign wealth fund for the future.
UsageUsed before a noun, as in sovereign bonds.
Note
- 5A British gold coin officially worth one pound, now bought and sold mainly for the gold in it.
She keeps three sovereigns in a safe at the bank.
A sovereign is worth much more than one pound because it is made of gold.
- 6A country's government when it borrows money by selling bonds and is given a credit rating.
The rating agency gave the sovereign a lower grade after the budget crisis.
Investors worry that some sovereigns will not be able to pay back what they owe.
Note
- 7
Less common meanings
- 8Short for sovereign citizen: a person who says the government's laws do not apply to them.
The man said he was a sovereign, so he would not pay his taxes.
The police stopped a sovereign driving a car with homemade license plates.
UsageSay sovereign citizen first; sovereign alone can mean a king or queen.
- 9The greatest or best, more important or better than anything else.
She answered the rude comments with sovereign contempt and walked away.
The cat watched the barking dog with sovereign calm.
UsageOften in sovereign contempt, meaning complete contempt.
Similarsupreme, highest, greatest, utmost, paramount
Note
- 10A person who does not have to obey any king or country.
Some thinkers say each free person is a sovereign who obeys no ruler.
The old story says that before there were countries, every person was a sovereign.
Oppositesubject
- 11Of a medicine, very strong and very good at making people well.
Old books on herbs praised this plant as a sovereign cure for fever.
The old book says this plant is a sovereign medicine for burns.
UsageMostly in a sovereign remedy for something.
Note
- 12A big, flashy gold ring with a sovereign coin, or a copy of one, set in it.
My uncle wears a sovereign on each hand and a thick gold chain.
She told him to take off his sovereigns before he met her parents.
Note
- 13A huge champagne bottle that holds about 26 liters, the same as 35 normal bottles.
Only a few sovereigns of champagne were ever made, so most people will never see one.
The sovereign was so heavy that two waiters had to carry it.
- 14To rule a country or people as its king or queen.
- 15One of a group of North American butterflies, such as the viceroy.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From a Latin word meaning “above.” Its spelling changed because people linked it with “reign.”
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Sovereign ultimately derives from Latin super, meaning “above.” en.wiktionary.org
- Its spelling changed through association with reign. en.wiktionary.org