home rule

noun

: self-government or limited autonomy in internal affairs by a dependent political unit (such as a territory or municipality)

Examples of home rule in a Sentence

The citizens petitioned for home rule.

Recent Examples on the Web

The legislation would create uniform statewide standards, replacing the current patchwork of local ordinances, an approach that has the backing of the Illinois Municipal League, which typically resists state efforts to preempt home rule authority. —Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026

Despite his battles over work-from-home rules, the governor insisted repeatedly over the past year that all state workers would be getting good raises. —Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2026

One Boston city council member, Julia Mejia, is pushing a home rule petition allowing non-citizens to vote in elections, a preposterous prospect that is making the city a laughingstock. —Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026

In the nineties, the city clung to the island through a legal principle known as home rule, which would require the mayor and City Council to sign off on Staten Island leaving. —Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for home rule

• minuscule
• molecule
• overrule
• poiseuille
• reticule
• ridicule
• vestibule
• ampoule
• bascule
• carpool
• cesspool
• ferrule

Kids Definition

home rule

noun

: self-government in local affairs by the citizens of a local political unit

Legal Definition

home rule

noun

: self-government or limited autonomy in internal affairs by a dependent political unit (as a territory or municipality)

also : the political theory or principle of self-government