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

None brought the populist vitality that had sustained the party for decades to their public policy, nor a genuine feeling of representation in self-government. —Alexander Heffner, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2025

In her view, the reason to innovate and make new things is not for the good of humanity writ large but specifically to help defend and protect America as both a nation and an experiment in self-government which is under threat from a hostile world. —Emma Green, New Yorker, 16 May 2025

Yet Noah never abandoned his plans for Jewish self-government and ultimately advocated national repatriation to areas of Palestine, then under Ottoman control. —Adam L. Rovner, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2025

The work of self-government, Lippmann thought—even back then—asked far too much of its citizens. —Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 29 Apr. 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