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

Among other elements, the plan would end the war, return the remaining hostages, surge aid into Gaza, disarm and potentially exile Hamas, and provide an eventual pathway toward Palestinian self-government. —Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2025

Byrnes reassured the German people the U.S. would support their nation’s recovery and self-government, emphasizing the commitment to maintain U.S. troops in Germany. —Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 6 Sep. 2025

The federal government’s deployment of military personnel to this country’s cities, all apart from being the Founders’ worst nightmare, threatens a death knell to popular self-government. —Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025

Outrage fades, the unthinkable becomes routine, and the guardrails that protect self-government quietly disappear. —Aron Solomon september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 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