self-determination

noun

self-de·​ter·​mi·​na·​tion ˌself-di-ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce self-determination (audio)
1
: free choice of one's own acts or states without external compulsion
2
: determination by the people of a territorial unit of their own future political status

Examples of self-determination in a Sentence

the United States officially recognizes 18 as the age at which someone is entitled to self-determination rebels fighting for the territory's self-determination
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The conduct at issue in this case has caused violations of the right to self-determination ⎯ violations which were foreseeable. Jon McGowan, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 Moctar and his band gallop through a tightly edited collection informed by years of live performance, leveraging their international stature to call for Tuareg cultural pride and African self-determination on the world stage. Pitchfork, 3 Dec. 2024 Organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas are grassroots liberation movements that have emerged in response to occupation and will continue to play a significant role as long as the underlying conditions persist—which is to say until the Palestinians’ right to self-determination is realized. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Affairs, 2 Dec. 2024 The carbon market can help conserve intact forests while respecting Indigenous self-determination. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for self-determination 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-determination was circa 1670

Dictionary Entries Near self-determination

Cite this Entry

“Self-determination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-determination. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

self-determination

noun
self-de·​ter·​mi·​na·​tion
ˌself-di-ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən
1
: free choice of one's own acts without outside pressure
2
: the deciding by the people of a place of the form of government they will have

More from Merriam-Webster on self-determination

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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