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self-governing territories

[self-GUV-ern-ing TER-i-tor-eez]
nounpl: self-governing territories
territórios autónomos
1. Regions or areas that have the power to govern themselves and make their own laws, while typically remaining under the sovereignty of a larger state or country
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are self-governing territories of the United States.
Porto Rico e as Ilhas Virgens Americanas são territórios autónomos dos Estados Unidos.
2. Geographic areas with limited independence that exercise internal self-administration but lack full sovereignty in foreign affairs
The self-governing territories negotiated greater autonomy in educational and economic policies.
Os territórios autónomos negociaram maior autonomia nas políticas educacionais e económicas.
Synonyms
autonomous territoriesself-administered regionsterritories with internal self-governmentsemi-autonomous regions
Antonyms
directly governed territoriesdependent territoriescoloniesoccupied territories

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
territórios autónomos
Standard usage in Brazilian Portuguese
São Paulo
territórios com autossuficiência administrativa
More formal variant used in academic contexts
Portugal
territórios autónomos
Standard usage in European Portuguese; may also use 'regiões autónomas'

Related Idioms & Phrases

exercise self-determination
grant autonomy to
home rule
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