self-determination
noun
self-de·ter·mi·na·tion
ˌself-di-ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən 
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
To break this stagnation, Nunavut should exercise its right to self-determination, secede from Canada, and merge with an independent Greenland to form a unified Inuit state.
—
Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
The team is both a symbol of national pride and a condensation of battles Haitians have long fought for dignity and self-determination.
—Laurent Dubois, The Conversation, 10 June 2026
The stadium would ultimately be built in 1987 as Joe Robbie Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins, setting off years of activism and calls for self-determination from Carol City residents.
—Joshua Ceballos, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
The after-hours party opens the entire museum up for dancehall workshops with Latonya Style, a dance floor headlined by Chicago’s DJ Miriam and a performance by Awilda Rodríguez Lora, whose oeuvre explores sexuality, self-determination and colonial legacies.
—Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
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Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
The team is both a symbol of national pride and a condensation of battles Haitians have long fought for dignity and self-determination.
—Laurent Dubois, The Conversation, 10 June 2026
The stadium would ultimately be built in 1987 as Joe Robbie Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins, setting off years of activism and calls for self-determination from Carol City residents.
—Joshua Ceballos, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
The after-hours party opens the entire museum up for dancehall workshops with Latonya Style, a dance floor headlined by Chicago’s DJ Miriam and a performance by Awilda Rodríguez Lora, whose oeuvre explores sexuality, self-determination and colonial legacies.
—Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-determination
Cite this Entry
“Self-determination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-determination. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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