autonomic
Americanadjective
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of or relating to the autonomic nervous system.
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Physiology. under the control of the autonomic nervous system.
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Cell Biology. produced by internal forces or causes; spontaneous.
adjective
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occurring involuntarily or spontaneously
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of or relating to the autonomic nervous system
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Also: autonomous. (of plant movements) occurring as a result of internal stimuli
Other Word Forms
- autonomically adverb
Etymology
Origin of autonomic
First recorded in 1825–35; autonom(y) + -ic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Climate change is increasing the frequency of hot nights, which may independently contribute to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by impairing sleep and autonomic recovery," he said.
From Science Daily • Feb. 11, 2026
Several other doctors have since told him that gabapentin is likely the cause of his condition, including a neuropsychiatrist who diagnosed him with severe dysautonomia, or impairment of the autonomic nervous system.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 25, 2025
It's part of the autonomic nervous system, which controls things we don't think about, like breathing, heart rate and digestion.
From BBC • Nov. 8, 2025
Your autonomic nervous system regulates heartbeat and blood pressure, but with POTS, the body stops keeping these functions in check, causing symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and extreme fatigue.
From Slate • Sep. 15, 2025
Speaking is an autonomic business; you may search for words as you go along, but they are found for you by agents in your brain over which you exercise no direct control.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
