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

Example Sentences

At the same time, the administration’s apparent tolerance for patient self-determination was a hard-won result of the patient campaign to change Carville’s institutional culture from that of a hospital to a community.

From Salon

The group paid tribute to Minelli, saying he had led a "life for freedom of choice, self-determination, and human rights".

From BBC

“It’s the idea that the country wants to exercise self-determination to celebrate its cultural heritage, and to plant a flag to say: We are an independent sovereign state.”

From New York Times

Pakistan denies the accusation and says it only provides diplomatic and moral support for Kashmiris seeking self-determination.

From Reuters

“Babbling about what women need to stick together and are supposed to gain more self-determination, but freak out when two beautiful, confident women show up in lingerie. Figure it out.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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