Definition of: sovereign

(sov′rin, suv′-) noun
1. One who possesses supreme authority, especially a person or a determine body of persons in whom the supreme power of the state is vested; a monarch.
2. An English gold coin equivalent to one pound sterling or twenty shillings, first issued by Henry VII.
3. A former gold coin of Austria. See synonyms under MASTER.
—adjective
1. Exercising or possessing supreme jurisdiction or power; royal.
2. Free, independent, and in no way limited by external authority or influence: a sovereign state.
3. Possessing supreme excellence of greatness; preeminent; paramount.
4. Superior in efficacy; potent: a sovereign remedy. See synonyms under IMPERIAL, PREDOMINANT. Also, Poetic, sovran. [<OF soverain, ult. <L super above. Related to SOPRANO.]
—sov′er·eign·ly adverb