self-governing

adjective

self-gov·​ern·​ing ˌself-ˈgə-vər-niŋ How to pronounce self-governing (audio)
Synonyms of self-governingnext
: having control or rule over oneself
specifically : having self-government : autonomous

Examples of self-governing in a Sentence

she left home and became entirely self-governing and financially independent at the age of 18 a self-governing nation that could be a role model for other countries in the region
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
These comments came after recent talks between Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about American support for the self-governing island. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026 Taiwan is a self-governing island that China claims as its own territory. Jan Camenzind Broomby, NPR, 14 May 2026 When those three things come together, patient safety stops being a values statement and becomes a self-governing system. Joe Kiani, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026 Administration officials heralded the law as liberation from the constant vulnerability of relying on chip-makers in Taiwan, a self-governing island only 100 miles off the Chinese coast that is claimed by Beijing. Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2023 Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its territory, is under growing pressure from China, which has not ruled out using force to seize control. Dan De Luce, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2023 The Chinese Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy of Taiwan as part of its territory, despite having never controlled it, and refuses to rule out the use of force. Nectar Gan, CNN, 13 Mar. 2023 The satirical news follows the very real law signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that wrests control of the resort’s self-governing district. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2023 Disney’s self-governing status endured because the company’s unrivaled political power in Florida made its arrangement virtually untouchable. Ron Desantis, WSJ, 28 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-governing was in 1592

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-governing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-governing. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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