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

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

Meanwhile, Congress stonewalled, gradually increasing the island’s self-government but withholding a permanent, non-colonial status. —Christina D. Ponsa-Kraus / Made By History, TIME, 11 Oct. 2024

Myanmar, in the midst of a crackdown by its military rulers, is sprouting new forms of local self-government. —Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 5 Oct. 2024

Those creedal ideals include liberty, equality, laissez-faire and limited self-government. —Melanie Laughman, The Enquirer, 11 Sep. 2024

The growing reputation of the studium, which attracted scholars from across Europe, helped the village of Bologna become a commune with powers of municipal self-government. —Bradford Vivian / Made By History, TIME, 16 Aug. 2024

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