self-determination

[ self-di-tur-muh-ney-shuh n, self- ]
/ ˈsɛlf dɪˌtɜr məˈneɪ ʃən, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

determination by oneself or itself, without outside influence.
freedom to live as one chooses, or to act or decide without consulting another or others.
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.

Origin of self-determination

1670–80; 1915–20 for def 3

OTHER WORDS FROM self-determination

self-de·ter·mined, adjective self-de·ter·min·ing, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for self-determination

British Dictionary definitions for self-determination

self-determination

noun

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

Derived forms of self-determination

self-determined, adjective self-determining, adjective