self-governing

adjective

ˌself-ˈgə-vər-niŋ How to pronounce self-governing (audio)
Definition of self-governingnext
1
as in independent
not being under the rule or control of another she left home and became entirely self-governing and financially independent at the age of 18

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2
as in democratic
of, relating to, or favoring political democracy a self-governing nation that could be a role model for other countries in the region

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of self-governing Still, rising tensions over the self-governing island loom in the background, as the Iran war depletes the US’ weapons stockpile and Taiwan’s AI chip production raises the stakes for any potential conflict. — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026 Both had been on the board of the 48 Cantones of Totonicapán—one of the country’s oldest Indigenous self-governing bodies, in rural western Guatemala—when the attorney general’s office had moved to annul the vote. — Will Freeman, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026 The final package fell far short of what President Lai Ching-te insisted was necessary to prepare the self-governing island for a potential Chinese attack. — Scott Tong, NPR, 11 June 2026 China claims the democratic self-governing island as its own, and Xi has not ruled out using force to take it. — David Rising, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-governing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-governing
  1. independent
  2. democratic
  3. autonomous
  4. sovereign
Adjective
  • The maintenance requests have kept engine repair and overhaul facilities backed up, from those owned by manufacturing giants GE Aerospace and RTX unit Pratt & Whitney to smaller, independent ones.
    — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
  • To pinpoint the exact moment of this turnaround, Young’s team used two independent dating methods.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of independent
Adjective
  • Its nascent democratic system confronted entrenched social hierarchies of caste and power.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The findings come three decades after the democratic government introduced a raft of measures — known as Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) — aimed at reversing the dispossession suffered by Black people under apartheid and colonialism.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of democratic
Adjective
  • Why Uber Eats keeps putting robots on sidewalks Despite the controversy, companies continue investing in autonomous delivery because the technology offers some practical advantages.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • When vision keynotes and customer stories promise an autonomous future, but lived experiences don’t match up, trust fades.
    — Chris Koehler, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of autonomous
Adjective
  • In addition to the £120 million infusion, the UK also plans to dole out £60 million to a sovereign AI fund to help boost domestic AI companies, and £18 million to boost homegrown chip design.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Europe's sovereign debt worries are starting to show up in corporate borrowing costs, potentially leaving some companies with less cash to invest or return to shareholders, according to Goldman Sachs.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of sovereign

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self-governed
self-governing
self-government
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Cite this Entry

“Self-governing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-governing. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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