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

Examples of self-government in a Sentence

self-government implies faith in the wisdom and essential goodness of the people

steely self-government was all that kept her from lashing out at the rude customer

championed self-government for the nation's indigenous peoples

Recent Examples on the Web

Because as our founders knew so well, human nature recoils all too often at the inconveniences and frustrations of self-government. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025

Religious freedom and freedom of speech make up the engine of self-government and form a bulwark against tyranny. —Kristen Waggoner, National Review, 5 July 2025

This experiment in self-government is being challenged by bitter partisanship that make Americans on one side of the political divide view their opposites as enemies, not fellow citizens. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 4 July 2025

To many early Americans, particularly those within the Washington and Adams administrations, self-government rendered popular protest illegitimate and obsolete. —Time, 2 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for self-government

• misgovernment
• nongovernment

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