sovereign

Compared meaning: having power, authority, or the highest rank (adjective).

比较义项：具有统治权、支配地位或最高地位（形容词）。

• sovereign 本词

  Sovereign stresses independent, self-governing authority free from outside control, typically describing a nation or ultimate power, not merely being highest in a hierarchy.

  sovereign强调不受外部控制的独立自主的统治权，通常用来描述一个国家或终极权力，而不仅仅是等级上的最高。

  After the treaty, the small island nation was recognized as a fully sovereign state.

  条约签订后，这个小岛国被承认为一个完全拥有主权的国家。

• supreme

  Supreme marks the very top of a rank or hierarchy, with nothing higher, and is often used for courts, leaders, or decisions, without implying independence.

  supreme表示在等级或排名中处于最顶端，没有比它更高的了，常用于法院、领导人或决定，但并不暗示独立自主。

  The Supreme Court's ruling became the supreme authority on that legal question nationwide.

  最高法院的裁决就该法律问题在全国范围内成为了最高权威。

• governing

  Governing describes the ongoing function of administering or directing something, such as a council or body, rather than a rank or degree of power.

  governing描述的是正在履行管理、领导某事物（如理事会或机构）的职能，而不是权力的等级或程度。

  The school's governing board approved the new safety policy after a long debate.

  经过长时间讨论后，学校的管理委员会批准了新的安全政策。

• dominant

  Dominant means having more power or influence than others in the same group, and is used broadly for animals, genes, or market position, not limited to political rule.

  dominant表示在同一群体中比其他成员更有权力或影响力，用法很广泛，可用于动物、基因或市场地位，并不局限于政治统治。

  In the wild, the dominant male leads the pack and eats first.

  在野外，占支配地位的雄性带领整个族群，并第一个进食。

Sovereign, supreme, governing, dominant all relate to power, but differ. Sovereign means independent authority, free from outside control. Supreme means the top of a rank, like courts or leaders. Governing describes the act of directing something. Dominant means more powerful than others in the group.

这四个词都能表示“拥有权力或处于高位”，但侧重点不同：sovereign强调不受外部控制的独立统治权；supreme强调在等级中处于最高位；governing强调正在履行管理、领导的职能；dominant强调在同类事物中最有影响力、最强势，它们不能随意互换使用。