self-determination

noun

self-de·​ter·​mi·​na·​tion ˌself-di-ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən 

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

Synonyms

• choice
• autonomy

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

The responses highlighted that, for some people, freedom encompasses feeling safe, exercising the right to self-determination, and recognizing our responsibility to others. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 4 July 2025

And the reaction exposed more than discomfort but further pointed to the broader cultural tension around Black self-determination and authenticity in corporate spaces. —Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

Diefenbaker, in Grant’s telling, took a different approach — one that valued Canadian self-determination over the material benefits of trade and security cooperation. —Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 2 July 2025

Zionism is Jewish national self-determination in the land where the Jews originated. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 2 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for self-determination

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization

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