self-government

noun

ˌself-ˈgə-vər(n)-mənt How to pronounce self-government (audio)
Definition of self-governmentnext
1
as in democracy
government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation self-government implies faith in the wisdom and essential goodness of the people

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2
as in restraint
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions steely self-government was all that kept her from lashing out at the rude customer

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3
as in autonomy
the state of being free from the control or power of another championed self-government for the nation's indigenous peoples

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of self-government The civic case asks them to prepare students for self-government. — Ray Ravaglia, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 The thread of citizen rights and responsibilities weaves through each of these, uniting evolving conceptions of freedom, self-government, and individual achievement from the nation’s past through to its present. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 4 July 2026 The celebration comes 250 years after delegates in Philadelphia approved the Declaration, setting in motion what would become the world's oldest continuing experiment in self-government. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 3 July 2026 The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the US Constitution. — Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-government
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-government
  1. democracy
  2. restraint
  3. autonomy
  4. sovereignty
  5. independence
  6. freedom
  7. independency
Noun
  • Across the country, more and more fans are identifying with Casey’s overwhelming frustration with the current state of our democracy.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2026
  • By themselves, data centers don’t rank as a top-tier national campaign issue, according to voters—in a recent Pew Research Center survey, the economy, the future of democracy, health care, education, and immigration made up the top five.
    — Naomi Nix, Time, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of democracy
Noun
  • Kitchen also had to develop a little more restraint — something that doesn't always come naturally in a sport where riders are constantly pushing the limits of speed and control.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Sullivan faces two counts of first-degree kidnapping and a single count each of first-degree assault, first-degree unlawful restraint and intentional cruelty to persons.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of restraint
Noun
  • The jet’s modular design enables rapid integration of mission systems and mission autonomy software.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Rooted in feminism and unfolding against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis, the works consider flesh and the human body with brutal honesty, viewing them as vessels for trauma, mortality, and political autonomy.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of autonomy
Noun
  • Lula has instead emphasized multilateralism, ties with the Global South and China — Brazil’s largest export market — and his resistance to Trump’s tariff measures as a defense of national sovereignty.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The three providers built around European technology received a higher sovereignty rating.
    — Margot Edelman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of sovereignty
Noun
  • Parties that likely would support Eisenkot have vowed to improve Israel's international standing and work to conscript ultra-Orthodox men while bolstering the independence of the judiciary.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Parties that likely would support Eisenkot have vowed to improve Israel’s international standing and work to conscript ultra-Orthodox men while bolstering the independence of the judiciary.
    — Tia Goldenberg, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of independence
Noun
  • My first exit gave me that freedom, but also a sense of unfinished business.
    — Daniel Kjellén, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The decades-long contract with Cheniere indicates that Qatar sees a risk that freedom of navigation will never return to Hormuz as Iran keeps attacking tankers, Munton said.
    — Spencer Kimball,Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of freedom
Noun
  • Yet the careful reader will appreciate the significance of the Puritan Cromwell’s independency.
    — Barton Swaim, WSJ, 27 Dec. 2021
  • His seemingly daily attacks on freedom of speech, the independency of the judiciary, the right to vote and other pillars of our constitutional system are bolstered by an intensely loyal fan base.
    — Christopher Ingraham, Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2020
Definition of independency

Browse Nearby Words

self-governing
self-government
self-gratulatory
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Cite this Entry

“Self-government.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-government. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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