self-determination

[self-di-tur-muh-ney-shuhn, self-]

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.

self-determination

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

Other Word Forms

• self-determined adjective
• self-determining adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-determination¹

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

Example Sentences

A society built on self-determination can’t thrive when dependence becomes its default.

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Once the Palestinian Authority has carried out requested reforms and the rebuilding of Gaza is underway, "the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood," the text says.

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The new draft includes more specific details on Palestinian self-determination and the future role of the Palestinian Authority in governing Gaza.

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Once the Palestinian Authority has carried out requested reforms and the rebuilding of Gaza is underway, "the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood," the draft says.

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How fitting that the U.N. chose that date to vote to annihilate the spirit of Jewish self-determination.

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Related Words

• autonomy 
• home rule 
• self-government 
• self-reliance 
• self-rule 
• self-sufficiency www.thesaurus.com
• separation 
• sovereignty