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

• 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

Rutte also said Russia must acknowledge Ukraine's right to self-determination. —Nicholas Kerr, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2025

Ultimately, Gen Z is walking forward into this new economy with self-determination. —Reid Litman, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2025

But these accords rested on the dangerous, misguided belief that the Palestinian issue had become irrelevant in the region and that further normalization agreements could be reached while bypassing the Palestinian aspiration for self-determination. —Ami Ayalon, Foreign Affairs, 5 Aug. 2025

The result has been a denial of basic health care to people most in need of it, and a denial of control, dignity and self-determination. —Don Aptekar, Denver Post, 4 Aug. 2025

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