self-determination

[ self-di-tur-muh-ney-shuhn, self- ]

noun

1. determination by oneself or itself, without outside influence.
2. freedom to live as one chooses, or to act or decide without consulting another or others.
3. the determining by the people of the form their government shall have, without reference to the wishes of any other nation, especially by people of a territory or former colony.

self-determination

noun

1. the power or ability to make a decision for oneself without influence from outside
2. the right of a nation or people to determine its own form of government without influence from outside

Derived Forms

• ˌself-deˈtermined, adjective
• ˌself-deˈtermining, adjective

Other Words From

• self-de·termined adjective
• self-de·termin·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-determination¹

1670–80; 1915–20 self-determination fordef 3

Related Words

• autonomy
• home rule
• self-government
• self-reliance
• self-rule
• self-sufficiency
• separation
• sovereignty