self-determination

noun

self-de·​ter·​mi·​na·​tion ˌself-di-ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce self-determination (audio)
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

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 Others are activists and legislators who have advocated self-determination for Hong Kong with more confrontational tactics. Tiffany May, New York Times, 30 May 2024 Every country that believes in freedom, democracy, self-determination, would want peace everywhere in the world and that is why Kenya's stepping forward to provide the leadership in Haiti. Abc News, ABC News, 24 May 2024 Simon Harris, who announced the decision in a press conference, likened Palestinians’ bid for self-determination to the Irish people’s history seeking international recognition of their independence in 1919. Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 22 May 2024 For many, that equates to the right of the Jewish people to have their own state and self-determination in an ancestral homeland after centuries of oppression and ostracism in much of the world. Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024 Freedom, to me, is the right of self-determination and human dignity. Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2024 That has fundamentally undermined the prospect of a two-state solution, which, despite its flaws, is the best way forward to respect the explicable demand by both national communities for self-determination. Richard English, TIME, 17 May 2024 His latest song trades in hope and self-determination, while placing the focus on his voice, as smooth yet gritty and world-weary as the dirt and rocks embedded on a well-trod backroad. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 13 May 2024 Employing an intimate lens, Nesa Azimi’s first feature brings the audience into a community of solidarity and self-determination. Jack Dunn, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-determination.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-determination was circa 1670

Dictionary Entries Near self-determination

Cite this Entry

“Self-determination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-determination. Accessed 7 Jun. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on self-determination

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