self-determination

noun

self-de·​ter·​mi·​na·​tion ˌself-di-ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən 

1

: free choice of one's own acts or states without external compulsion

2

: determination by the people of a territorial unit of their own future political status

Synonyms of self-determination

• choice
• autonomy

Examples of self-determination in a Sentence

the United States officially recognizes 18 as the age at which someone is entitled to self-determination

rebels fighting for the territory's self-determination

Recent Examples on the Web

In the run up to the current war, five Iranian Kurdish groups formed a coalition dedicated to overthrowing the Islamic Republic and establishing the Kurdish people’s right to self-determination. —ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026

Of course, one hopes for freedom and self-determination for the Iranian people. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026

But in order to achieve that, Iran needs not a new dictatorship but self-determination and a pluralist government that respects basic rights. —Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2026

Policymakers at the federal and state levels can move forward and build upon our nation’s energy abundance, self-determination and global leadership. —Edward Cross, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for self-determination

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization

Kids Definition

self-determination

noun

self-de·​ter·​mi·​na·​tion

ˌself-di-ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən

1

: free choice of one's own acts without outside pressure

2

: the deciding by the people of a place of the form of government they will have