self-government

noun

self-gov·​ern·​ment ˌself-ˈgə-vər(n)-mənt How to pronounce self-government (audio)
-ˈgə-vᵊm-ənt
1
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

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
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.
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 Democracy, the practice of self-government, is a covenant among free men to respect the rights and liberties of their fellows. Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-government

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-government was in 1622

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-government.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-government. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on self-government

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