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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

• self-governed adjective
• self-governing adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-government

First recorded in 1725–35

Example Sentences

Greenland, which has a population of 57,000 people, has had extensive self-government since 1979, though defence and foreign policy remain in Danish hands.

From BBC

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

Related Words

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