self-governance

noun

self-gov·​er·​nance ˌself-ˈgə-vər-nən(t)s How to pronounce self-governance (audio)

Examples of self-governance in a Sentence

despite pessimistic predictions, self-governance has worked out well for the former colony
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
That includes confirming a qualified undersecretary of health, restoring staff self-governance, keeping protocols evidence-based, and protecting VA research independence from administrative interference. Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025 The law, which gives D.C. residents a greater degree of self-governance but retains Congress’s constitutional authority over the city, only enabled Trump to federalize the D.C. police for up to 30 days. Connor Greene, Time, 10 Sep. 2025 Tibetans, initially resistant to the transfer of the community’s political mandate from pontiff to public, slowly but steadily embraced this experiment in democratic self-governance. Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025 Trump’s show of force is an imposition on a citizenry already aware that its democratic self-governance is tenuous. Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-governance

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-governance was in 1848

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-governance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-governance. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!