A sovereign state is a country that has complete control over its own affairs. However, there are several other terms that can be used interchangeably with "sovereign state." These include independent state, nation-state, and country. These terms essentially refer to a political entity that has recognized borders and is self-governing. Other synonymous terms include republic, federation, and regime. Yet, while these terms may be used interchangeably, they may also have slightly different implications and characteristics depending on the specific context in which they are used. Nonetheless, all these terms refer to an entity that has full control over its own internal and external affairs.