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

Example Sentences

“Everything is, in some ways, finding your way home, self-determination.”

From Los Angeles Times

That right to self-determination and to amend or make mistakes is absent in Iran.

From Los Angeles Times

The catastrophic consequences of the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023 ripped away any pretence that the conflict could be managed while Israel continued to deny Palestinian rights to self-determination.

From BBC

According to the Supreme Court of Canada, the right to self-determination outweighs other interests, “including what physicians may think is in the patient’s best interests.”

From Salon

The controversial Treaty Principles Bill would end the Māori right of self-determination outlined in a nearly 200-year-old treaty, opposition parties say.

From Salon

Related Words

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