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Definition of sovereignty noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

sovereignty

noun
 
/ˈsɒvrənti/
 
/ˈsɑːvrənti/
[uncountable] (formal)
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  1. sovereignty (over something) complete power to govern a country
    • The country claimed sovereignty over the island.
    • This constitutes an attack on the sovereignty of Parliament.
    • (figurative) the idea of consumer sovereignty
    Extra Examples
    • In 1949 the Dutch ceded sovereignty of the Dutch East Indies to the Indonesian Republic.
    • Politicians were alarmed over the potential loss of national sovereignty.
    • Sovereignty resides with the people.
    • The treaty gave Edward III sovereignty over Calais and the whole of Aquitaine.
    • Two countries have a claim to sovereignty over the islands.
    • fears about the transfer of sovereignty to the European Union
    • the handover of sovereignty to the new government
    • the partial loss of sovereignty to supranational institutions
    • She has strong views on preserving national sovereignty.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • absolute
    • full
    • unlimited
    verb + sovereignty
    • exercise
    • have
    • share
    sovereignty + verb
    • reside in somebody/​something
    • reside with somebody/​something
    preposition
    • sovereignty over
    phrases
    • the handover of sovereignty
    • the return of sovereignty
    • the transfer of sovereignty
    See full entry
  2. the state of being a country with freedom to govern itself
    • The declaration proclaimed the full sovereignty of the republic.
    Collocations International relationsInternational relationsTrade
    • facilitate/​regulate trade (with other countries)
    • form/​join a trading bloc
    • live in/​compete in a global/​the world economy
    • support/​promote free trade
    • adopt/​call for/​oppose protectionist measures
    • erect/​impose/​reduce/​remove trade barriers
    • impose/​lift/​raise/​eliminate import tariffs (on something)
    • have/​run a huge/​large/​growing trade surplus/​deficit
    • embrace/​resist/​drive globalization
    Politics and law
    • conduct/​handle/​talk about/​discuss foreign policy
    • pursue an aggressive/​a hawkish foreign policy
    • require/​use/​conduct diplomacy
    • establish/​break off/​sever/​restore diplomatic relations
    • foster/​promote/​strengthen regional cooperation
    • facilitate/​achieve economic/​political integration
    • exercise/​defend/​protect/​transfer/​restore/​regain national/​state/​full/​limited sovereignty
    • consolidate/​extend/​lose/​retain your power (in the region)
    • hold/​maintain/​change/​alter/​shift/​be a shift in the balance of power (in the region)
    • cause/​create/​open/​expose/​heal/​repair a deep/​growing/​major/​serious rift between X and Y
    Meetings and agreements
    • have/​hold/​host/​attend an international conference/​an economic forum/​a summit meeting
    • launch a new round of global/​multilateral/​world trade negotiations
    • send/​head/​lead/​meet a high-level/​an official/​a trade delegation
    • begin/​start/​continue/​resume peace talks
    • be committed to/​be opposed to/​disrupt/​undermine/​derail/​sabotage the peace process
    • negotiate/​achieve a lasting political settlement
    • broker/​sign a peace deal/​agreement/​treaty
    Conflict
    • be/​constitute/​pose a threat to global security
    • compromise/​endanger/​protect national security
    • justify/​be in favour of/ (US English) be in favor of/​be against military intervention
    • threaten/​authorize/​launch/​take/​support/​oppose unilateral/​pre-emptive military action
    • impose/​enforce/​lift/​end economic sanctions/​an arms embargo/​a naval blockade
    • close/​protect/​secure/​patrol the border
    • lead/​be involved in a peacekeeping operation
    Aid
    • negotiate/​announce a $15 billion aid package/​an economic stimulus package
    • send/​provide/​request/​cut off military aid
    • bring/​provide emergency/​humanitarian relief
    • deliver/​distribute medical supplies/(British English) food parcels/(North American English)food packages
    • fund/​run a foreign/​a local/​an international NGO
    • reduce/​eradicate child/​global/​world poverty
    Extra Examples
    • Demonstrators demanded full sovereignty for the self-proclaimed republic.
    • Protesters called on the government to adopt a declaration of sovereignty.
    • We must respect the sovereignty of member states.
    • The group is committed to achieving sovereignty for Quebec.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • absolute
    • full
    • unlimited
    verb + sovereignty
    • exercise
    • have
    • share
    sovereignty + verb
    • reside in somebody/​something
    • reside with somebody/​something
    preposition
    • sovereignty over
    phrases
    • the handover of sovereignty
    • the return of sovereignty
    • the transfer of sovereignty
    See full entry
  3. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French sovereinete, from soverain, based on Latin super ‘above’.
See sovereignty in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee sovereignty in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
sufficiently
adverb
 
 
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