self-government
Americannoun
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control of the government of a state, community, or other body by its own members; democratic government.
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the condition of being self-governed.
noun
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the government of a country, nation, etc, by its own people
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the state of being self-controlled
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an archaic term for self-control
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of self-government
First recorded in 1725–35
Vocabulary lists containing self-government
The American Revolution - Introductory
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The American Revolution - Middle School and High School
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History of India - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That the Constitution that we have is clearly a document meant to instantiate self-government.
From Slate ● Aug. 10, 2026
The New York Historical showcases the evolution of our nation’s hallmark idea of self-government in a thoughtful, if sometimes pessimistic, exhibition.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
It opens by promoting the opposing view, declaring America a grand experiment in self-government.
From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026
The show examines a foundational—and enduring—national question and explores the American commitment to self-government through even the most trying times.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026
Unlike in classical Athens, however, the power of the city’s civil servants was entirely circumscribed by the king’s, preserving only the outward form, not the substance, of self-government.
From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
