Skip to main content

self-determiningHaving the ability or right to make decisions about one's own actions, future, or governance without external control. Exercising free will and autonomy.

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: Having the ability or right to make decisions about one's own actions, future, or governance without external control. Exercising free will and autonomy.

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌself dɪˈtɜːrmɪnɪŋ/

Example Sentences

  • The United Nations supports the principle of self-determining peoples.
  • My cat thinks she's a self-determining nation and refuses to follow any house rules.
  • The colony became a self-determining territory after decades of struggle.

self-determining

ADJECTIVE

[/ˌself dɪˈtɜːrmɪnɪŋ/]

Having the ability or right to make decisions about one's own actions, future, or governance without external control. Exercising free will and autonomy.

Having the ability or right to make decisions about one's own actions, future, or governance without external control. Exercising free will and autonomy.
💡 Concept

Having the ability or right to make decisions about one's own actions, future, or governance without external control. Exercising free will and autonomy.

While investors come swarming, she stays self-determining in the warming light!
🎵 Rhyme

While investors come swarming, she stays self-determining in the warming light!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˌself dɪˈtɜːrmɪnɪŋ/

🌳Etymology

Prefixself--
Roottermin
Suffix--ing

Origin

From the prefix 'self-' combined with 'determine', which comes from Latin 'determinare' meaning 'to set boundaries' or 'to decide'. The concept suggests drawing your own boundaries and making your own choices.

Breakdown

self- (one's own) + determine (from Latin de- 'completely' + terminare 'to set limits') + -ing (adjective suffix)

🎵Rhyme

determiningconcerningdiscerning

📝Examples

The United Nations supports the principle of self-determining peoples.

😄 Fun example

My cat thinks she's a self-determining nation and refuses to follow any house rules.

The colony became a self-determining territory after decades of struggle.

😄 Fun example

As a self-determining individual, she chose pizza for breakfast, much to her nutritionist's horror.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

autonomousindependentself-governingsovereignfree

Antonyms

dependentcontrolled

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.