self-government

noun

self-gov·​ern·​ment ˌself-ˈgə-vər(n)-mənt 

-ˈgə-vᵊm-ənt

1

: self-control, self-command

2

: government under the control and direction of the inhabitants of a political unit rather than by an outside authority

broadly : control of one's own affairs

Synonyms

• democracy

Examples of self-government in a Sentence

self-government implies faith in the wisdom and essential goodness of the people

steely self-government was all that kept her from lashing out at the rude customer

championed self-government for the nation's indigenous peoples

Recent Examples on the Web

At smaller scales, new places have made advances in self-government. —Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025

Trump has mused about a broader federal takeover of the nation’s capital, although that would require the approval of the House and Senate to repeal the Home Rule Act of 1973, which gives Washington its current measure of self-government. —Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 8 Aug. 2025

On this day in 1952: With the establishment of its constitution, Puerto Rico attained self-government as an unincorporated commonwealth of the United States, 54 years after it was invaded by U.S. forces. —Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 26 July 2025

Maintaining and strengthening public broadcasting preserves media diversity and advances important principles of self-government. —Stephanie A, The Conversation, 21 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for self-government

• misgovernment
• nongovernment

Kids Definition

self-government

noun

self-gov·​ern·​ment

ˈself-ˈgəv-ər(n)-mənt,

-ˈgəv-ᵊm-ənt

1

: control over one's own actions : self-control

2

: government by action of the people making up a community

especially : democratic government

self-governed

-ˈgəv-ərnd

adjective

self-governing

-ər-niŋ

adjective