self-government

noun

self-gov·​ern·​ment ˌself-ˈgə-vər(n)-mənt 

-ˈgə-vᵊm-ənt

1

: self-control, self-command

2

: government under the control and direction of the inhabitants of a political unit rather than by an outside authority

broadly : control of one's own affairs

Synonyms

• democracy
• republic
• self-rule

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Even then, Madison argued that the residents of this new district would not be denied their right of self-government. —Matt Ford, The New Republic, 8 Mar. 2023

As Charlie Cooke has written, Americans are capable of self-government and can evaluate the risks of different types of stoves themselves. —Dominic Pino, National Review, 7 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

self-government

noun

self-gov·​ern·​ment

ˈself-ˈgəv-ər(n)-mənt,

-ˈgəv-ᵊm-ənt

1

: control over one's own actions : self-control

2

: government by action of the people making up a community

especially : democratic government

self-governed

-ˈgəv-ərnd

adjective

self-governing

-ər-niŋ

adjective