self-determination

American  

[self-di-tur-muh-ney-shuhn, self-] / ˈsɛlf dɪˌtɜr məˈneɪ ʃən, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

1. determination by oneself or itself, without outside influence.

2. freedom to live as one chooses, or to act or decide without consulting another or others.

3. the determining by the people of the form their government shall have, without reference to the wishes of any other nation, especially by people of a territory or former colony.

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self-determination British  

noun

1. the power or ability to make a decision for oneself without influence from outside

2. the right of a nation or people to determine its own form of government without influence from outside

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Other Word Forms

• self-determined adjective
• self-determining adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-determination

1670–80; 1915–20 self-determination for def. 3

Explanation

In politics, self-determination is the process of citizens choosing their own government. On a personal level, self-determination is making choices and controlling your own life. Living with self-determination means deciding (or determining) for yourself and exerting some control over the things you do and the choices you make. This is the original sense of the word, first used in the 1680s. As a political concept, self-determination was popularized by President Woodrow Wilson at the end of the 19th century. It's an accepted idea today in international law that all people have a right to self-determination, freely choosing their leaders.

Example Sentences

“Nasty” has been called a feminist anthem, planting a flag for a woman’s right to self-determination.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

They want their own right of self-determination and self-government in their Native nations.

From Slate • Mar. 16, 2026

Talks would proceed, he said, with “respect for the political systems of both states, and for the sovereignty and self-determination of our government.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

Rana's case had sparked a debate in India around the ethics of court-approved passive euthanasia, with some noting that it goes against the principle of self-determination, which is the foundation of a living will.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

In the close quarters of an American nuclear family, their mother's prodigious energy was becoming a real drain on their self-determination.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

Related Words

• autonomy
• home rule
• self-government
• self-reliance
• self-rule
• self-sufficiency
• separation
• sovereignty