BharatNotes Sovereign
adjective; nounUsage in a UPSC answer
In a federal polity, the Union and the States are not rival sovereigns but co-ordinate authorities, for the Constitution lodges sovereignty in the people and distributes power between the two tiers.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
sovereign (n), sovereignty (n), sovereignly (adv), sovereignize (v, rare)
Root
Old French soverain → Vulgar Latin superānus = supreme; Latin super- = above; -ānus = adjectival suffix
Etymology
From Old French soverain, derived from Vulgar Latin superānus (from Latin super, meaning "above"); the spelling was later influenced by folk-etymological association with "reign."
Memory Hook
"Sovereign" hides "reign" — and a sovereign is the one whose reign is super (Latin super, 'above') everyone else's.
Seen in UPSC Question Papers
- Prelims 2024 — Money and Banking
- Prelims 2022 — Budget
- Prelims 2021 — Preamble
Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Sovereign” — proof this word earns its place on your list.
Tip: press Alt+S to hear pronunciation
