eleventh amendment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Legal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “eleventh amendment” mean?
An amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1795, which grants sovereign immunity to states from being sued in federal court by citizens of other states or foreign countries.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1795, which grants sovereign immunity to states from being sued in federal court by citizens of other states or foreign countries.
A foundational legal principle establishing state sovereignty within the American federal system; often invoked in constitutional law to protect state governments from certain types of private lawsuits.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term has no meaningful usage in British English, as it pertains specifically to the U.S. Constitution. In American English, it is a standard term in legal and civics education.
Connotations
In the U.S., it connotes states' rights, federalism, and legal limitations on judicial power.
Frequency
Usage is negligible in UK contexts; moderate in specific American legal, historical, and political discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “eleventh amendment” in a Sentence
The [State/Lawsuit] was [dismissed/barred] based on [the Eleventh Amendment].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “eleventh amendment” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The court is expected to Eleventh-Amendment the case (non-standard).
American English
- The state moved to dismiss, seeking to Eleventh-Amendment the suit (legal jargon).
adjective
British English
- The Eleventh-Amendment defence was considered.
American English
- The Eleventh Amendment argument proved decisive.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except for businesses involved in litigation against U.S. state entities.
Academic
Common in U.S. law, political science, and history courses and texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Core terminology in U.S. constitutional law and federal civil procedure.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “eleventh amendment”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “eleventh amendment”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “eleventh amendment”
- Incorrect article: saying 'an Eleventh Amendment' instead of 'the Eleventh Amendment'.
- Misnumbering: calling it the '11th Amendment' in formal writing.
- Misapplication: using it to refer to amendments to other documents.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but indirectly; it often protects state officials from suits for official acts, based on the state's own immunity.
Yes, if it consents to the suit, if Congress has validly abrogated immunity (e.g., under certain civil rights laws), or if the suit is brought by another state or the federal government.
No, it is a specific provision of the U.S. Constitution. However, the concept of state sovereign immunity influences discussions of federalism in other countries.
It was a direct response to the Supreme Court case Chisholm v. Georgia (1793), which allowed a citizen of one state to sue another state, a decision that alarmed states fearing financial liability.
An amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1795, which grants sovereign immunity to states from being sued in federal court by citizens of other states or foreign countries.
Eleventh amendment is usually formal, legal, academic in register.
Eleventh amendment: in British English it is pronounced /ɪˌlɛvnθ əˈmɛn(d)mənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˌlɛvənθ əˈmɛndmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To pull an Eleventh Amendment (informal, rare: to claim immunity from an obligation).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a football team with 11 players (Eleventh) who cannot be forced to play a game (sued) by fans (citizens) from the opposing team's city (another state).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE STATE IS A FORTRESS; the Eleventh Amendment is the moat that prevents outsiders (plaintiffs) from storming the walls (the state treasury/judiciary).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary legal effect of the Eleventh Amendment?