From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishself-determinationˌself-determiˈnation noun [uncountable] CHOOSEthe right of the people of a particular country to govern themselves and to choose the type of government they will have
Examples from the Corpus
self-determination• And we also think that fairness and self-determination are things most people believe in.• Why such a strong desire for self-determination on the far northwest side?• By contrast, the sphere of civil society offers greater prospects for self-determination.• We all like self-determination and flexibility.• Decolonization was associated with the spread of ideologies of national self-determination and ultimately the near-universality of the sovereign nation-state.• The latter stand on a right of self-determination in matters that touch individual opinion and personal attitude...• On the other hand, schools are being encouraged in a much greater degree of financial and professional self-determination. 