Noun | 1. | self-determination - government of a political unit by its own people sovereignty - government free from external control local option - freedom of a local government to determine by popular vote the applicability of a controversial law in their jurisdiction home rule - self-government in local matters by a city or county that is part of a national government |
2. | self-determination - determination of one's own fate or course of action without compulsion free will, discretion - the power of making free choices unconstrained by external agencies |