self-government

American  

[self-guhv-ern-muhnt, -er-muhnt, self-] / ˌsɛlfˈgʌv ərn mənt, -ər mənt, ˈsɛlf- /

noun

1. control of the government of a state, community, or other body by its own members; democratic government.

2. the condition of being self-governed.

3. self-control.

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self-government British  

noun

1. the government of a country, nation, etc, by its own people

2. the state of being self-controlled

3. an archaic term for self-control

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Other Word Forms

• self-governed adjective
• self-governing adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-government

First recorded in 1725–35

Example Sentences

Greenland, home to about 57,000 people, has had extensive self-government since 1979, though defence and foreign policy remain in Danish hands.

From BBC

That isn’t the conduct of a movement preparing for responsible self-government.

From The Wall Street Journal

The opposing argument begins with a simple intuition: In a society defined by self-government, as America is, there is no such thing as citizenship without consent.

From Salon

Her grandfather signed a petition against Irish self-government in 1912, when the whole island was still part of the UK.

From BBC

Her hands are tied by D.C.’s unique status under the Home Rule Act, which granted limited self-government to the District.

From Salon

Related Words

• autonomy
• discretion
• flexibility
• immunity
• independence
• sovereignty