self-governing

adjective

ˌself-ˈgə-vər-niŋ How to pronounce self-governing (audio)
Definition of self-governingnext
1
as in independent
not being under the rule or control of another she left home and became entirely self-governing and financially independent at the age of 18

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2
as in democratic
of, relating to, or favoring political democracy a self-governing nation that could be a role model for other countries in the region

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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-governing The final package fell far short of what President Lai Ching-te insisted was necessary to prepare the self-governing island for a potential Chinese attack. — Scott Tong, NPR, 11 June 2026 Taiwan’s Beijing-friendly opposition leader headed to the US for meetings with lawmakers at a time when Washington’s commitment to the self-governing island has been cast in doubt. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 1 June 2026 The collection of 18 islands between Scotland and Iceland is a self-governing region of Denmark, and the 54,000 people who live there have their own language, parliament, and culture distinct from the Danes. — Callie Radke Stevens, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for self-governing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-governing
  1. independent
  2. democratic
  3. autonomous
  4. sovereign
Adjective
  • Economic progress slows when that guarantee is taken away, as Hong Kong has witnessed in its sad regression from the promises of an independent judiciary made in 1997.
    — Tom Campbell, Oc Register, 4 July 2026
  • However, the results reported by xDots still come primarily from pilot projects, so broader independent validation will be needed to determine whether similar savings can be achieved consistently across different industries.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 4 July 2026
Definition of independent
Adjective
  • The state’s Holocaust Education Bill, passed in 1994, requires every school district to teach the Holocaust with the explicit aim of building tolerance, nurturing democratic values, and confronting what indifference produces.
    — Masha Pearl, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026
  • All of the democratic socialist legislators, including then-Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, were smart enough to stay away, figuring this was not the moment to cheer Hamas, even for those committed to the Palestinian cause.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of democratic
Adjective
  • Early guests will be able to try robot check-in and autonomous in-room delivery before the full launch.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • In her Sintra speech Tuesday, Breeden said that, for now, trading firms mainly use autonomous AI for lower-risk operational tasks, such as research.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 3 July 2026
Definition of autonomous
Adjective
  • As Americans reflect on our 250-year history as a sovereign nation, there's no better time to appreciate the breathtaking natural beauty the country offers.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • On July 4, the United States of America celebrates its 250th birthday, marking the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and becoming a sovereign nation.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of sovereign

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Cite this Entry

“Self-governing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-governing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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