sovereignty
/ˈsɒvrənti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɑːvrənti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsä-v(ə-)rən-tē -vərn-tē also ˈsə-/ (ame, mw)
sovereignty — 名詞
1. the highest political power held by a country or state, which allows it to gover
主權
國家最高統治權力，不受他國控制
the highest political power held by a country or state, which allows it to govern itself and make its own laws and decisions without being controlled by other countries
The two countries agreed to respect each other's national sovereignty under the new treaty.
這兩個國家同意在新的條約下尊重彼此的國家主權。
collocation: national sovereignty / respect sovereignty
Andrés believes that a nation's sovereignty should never be traded away for economic benefits.
Andrés 認為，國家的主權絕不該為了經濟利益而被出賣。
sovereignty + should never be traded — value judgment pattern
After decades of colonial rule, the island nation declared its full sovereignty in 1972.
經過數十年的殖民統治，這個島國在 1972 年宣布完全主權。
Lien wrote a paper discussing how international trade agreements can limit a country's sovereignty.
Lien 寫了一篇論文，討論國際貿易協定如何限制一個國家的主權。
The constitution was rewritten to guarantee the sovereignty of the people over their government.
這部憲法被重新起草，以保障人民對政府的最終統治權。
- authority
broader term; used for the right to make decisions in any context (parental, managerial, governmental), not limited to nations
- autonomy
focuses on the freedom to self-govern without outside control; can apply to regions, institutions, or individuals, not just states
- independence
emphasizes freedom from external control; 'independence' is a precondition of sovereignty, but sovereignty adds the dimension of having supreme authority over a territory
- subjugation
the state of being controlled by an external power, the opposite of self-government
- dependency
a territory that depends on another country and lacks full control over its own affairs
文法句型
sovereignty of [country/territory]
sovereignty over [territory]
用法筆記
Typically used in political and legal contexts. The phrase 'full sovereignty' emphasizes complete independence and self-rule. When discussing disputed territory, the pattern 'sovereignty over [place]' is common: 'sovereignty over the islands'.