(uncountable) The right or condition of self-government; freedom to act or function independently.

(government, countable) A self-governing country or region.

(philosophy, uncountable) The capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision.

(mechanics, uncountable) The capacity of a system to make a decision about its actions without the involvement of another system or operator.

(Christianity, uncountable) The status of a church whose highest-ranking bishop is appointed by the patriarch of the mother church, but which is self-governing in all other respects. Compare autocephaly.