sovereign

Sovereign is a term used as both an adjective and a noun with meanings related to supreme power, independence, and self-government. As an adjective, it describes someone or something that has ultimate authority or autonomy, such as a sovereign government or a sovereign state that governs itself without outside interference. As a noun, it can refer to a ruler who holds supreme authority, typically a monarch, or to the head of state. In international law and political science, sovereignty denotes the supreme authority a state has within its territory and in its external relations.

Etymology traces sovereign to the Old French souverain, from Latin superanus, meaning above or supreme.

In international relations, sovereignty encompasses both internal and external dimensions. Internal sovereignty refers to the government’s exclusive authority within a territory, while external sovereignty concerns recognition by other states and the capacity to engage in diplomatic relations. The Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (1933) is often cited as a foundational standard for statehood, outlining criteria such as a defined territory, a permanent population, a functioning government, and the ability to enter into relations with other states.

In finance and commerce, sovereign can denote a British gold coin known as the sovereign, historically issued as a one-pound piece. The term is also widely used to describe sovereign debt or sovereign bonds, which are securities issued by a national government. The word’s broad usage reflects its core idea of ultimate authority and legitimacy under a state framework.