sovereign
gb/sˈɑvɹən/ us/sˈɑvɹən/
B2
English
~ 2600
uralkodó, szuverén állam, független állam, szuverén, legfőbb, legfontosabb, sovereign, aranyfont
NOUN
B2
1
uralkodó
B1
Usage pattern:
[a/the] sovereign of [a country]
The sovereign signed the new law into effect.
Az uralkodó aláírta az új törvényt, amely így hatályba lépett.
Queen Elizabeth II was the sovereign of the United Kingdom.
II. Erzsébet királynő volt az Egyesült Királyság uralkodója.
The country's sovereign attended the international summit.
The sovereign's decisions were final and could not be appealed.
Learner examples
The king is the sovereign of the country.
A király az ország uralkodója.
A sovereign makes the most important decisions.
Az uralkodó hozza meg a legfontosabb döntéseket.
The sovereign visited many towns this year.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'sovereign' with 'government'; 'sovereign' refers to the ruler, not the whole administration in this sense.
Meaning
A nation's supreme ruler
Collocations
absolute sovereign
|reigning sovereign
|sovereign ruler
|sovereign state
Synonyms
monarch (Neutral term for a king or queen; often interchangeable.)
Antonyms
subject (Refers to someone under the authority of a sovereign.)
Themes
politics
|government
|history
Definition
A king, queen, or leader who has the highest power in a country.
A king, queen, or other person who holds supreme political power over a state or territory.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[a/the] sovereign [nation/state]
Canada is a sovereign nation.
Kanada szuverén állam.
The treaty recognized the island as a sovereign state.
A szerződés szuverén államként ismerte el a szigetet.
They fought to remain a sovereign people.
Learner examples
This is a sovereign country.
Ez egy szuverén ország.
A sovereign state can make its own laws.
Egy szuverén állam maga hozhatja meg a törvényeit.
The island became sovereign last year.
Common mistake:
Learners might confuse 'sovereign' meaning 'independent country' with 'sovereignty', which is the concept of independence.
Meaning
An independent nation-state
Collocations
sovereign nation
|sovereign state
|fully sovereign
Synonyms
independent state (Emphasizes political and legal independence.)
Antonyms
colony (A territory controlled by another country.)
Themes
politics
|international relations
|law
Definition
A country that makes its own laws and is not ruled by another country.
A state or nation that governs itself without control from another power.
B2
FORMAL
3
szuverén
B2
Usage pattern:
[a/the] sovereign [state/decision/power]
The court affirmed the tribe's sovereign rights.
A bíróság megerősítette a törzs szuverén jogait.
They acted as a sovereign body in making the decision.
A döntés meghozatalakor szuverén testületként jártak el.
A sovereign government must protect its citizens.
Learner examples
The tribe is sovereign over its land.
A törzs saját területén szuverén.
This group makes sovereign choices.
Ez a csoport szuverén döntéseket hoz.
A sovereign state can choose its own leaders.
Meaning
Having full authority
Collocations
sovereign power
|sovereign rights
|sovereign authority
Synonyms
autonomous (Emphasizes self-rule and independence, often in political contexts.)
Antonyms
dependent (Lacking the ability to act independently; relying on others for authority.)
Themes
politics
|law
Definition
Having the complete right to make decisions without being controlled by others.
Possessing full and independent power to govern or decide without interference.
C1
FORMAL
4
legfőbb
B2
legfontosabb
A2
Usage pattern:
[a] sovereign [right/position/principle]
Freedom of speech is considered a sovereign right in this nation.
A szólásszabadságot ebben az országban a legfőbb jogok egyikének tekintik.
The constitution is the sovereign law of the land.
Az alkotmány az ország legfőbb törvénye.
He held a sovereign position within the organization.
Learner examples
This is a sovereign rule in our country.
Ez a legfőbb szabály az országunkban.
The president has a sovereign role here.
Itt az elnöknek van a legfontosabb szerepe.
Our law is sovereign over other rules.
Meaning
Highest in rank or status
Collocations
sovereign right
|sovereign principle
Synonyms
supreme (Very similar in meaning; emphasizes unmatched authority or importance.)
Antonyms
subordinate (Lower in rank or authority.)
Themes
politics
|law
Definition
Being the most important or powerful in a group or system.
Holding the highest position of authority or importance within a hierarchy.
NOUN
C2
ARCHAIC
5
He paid for the horse with three sovereigns.
Három aranyfonttal fizetett a lóért.
The coin collection included a rare 1890 sovereign.
Az érmegyűjteményben volt egy ritka, 1890-es sovereign is.
Sailors often carried gold sovereigns as emergency funds.
Learner examples
He gave me an old gold sovereign.
Egy régi aranyfontot adott nekem.
The shop sells old sovereigns.
A bolt régi aranyfontokat árul.
I saw a gold sovereign in the museum.
Meaning
Old British gold coin
Synonyms
gold pound coin (Descriptive phrase for clarity.)
Themes
money
|history
|finance
Definition
An old British gold coin worth one pound.
A British gold coin formerly valued at one pound sterling, used until the early 20th century.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sovereign
IPA
GB/sˈɑvɹən/
US/sˈɑvɹən/
Syllables & stress
sov - er - eign (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sov)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: sovereign
Noun
- Base: sovereign
- Plural: sovereigns
Word family
Forms
sovereigns
noun
Core family
sovereignty
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
non-sovereign
adjective
Advanced or less common
sovereignly
adverb
Expressions
sovereign debt
1/sˈɑvɹən dˈɛt/
fixed phrase
technical
Government borrowing of money
Money that a country's government owes to lenders inside or outside the country.
Examples
- The country's sovereign debt has reached record levels.
- Investors are worried about the possibility of a sovereign debt default.
sovereign state
1/sˈɑvɹən stˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
Independent self-governing country
A country that rules itself and is not controlled by another country.
Examples
- France is a sovereign state in Europe.
- The United Nations has 193 member sovereign states.
sovereign wealth fund
1/sˈɑvɹən wˈɛlθ fˈʌnd/
fixed phrase
technical
State-owned investment fund
Money saved and invested by a country's government, usually from natural resources or trade surplus.
Examples
- Norway's sovereign wealth fund is one of the largest in the world.
- The oil revenues are placed into the nation's sovereign wealth fund.