autonomous

[aw-ton-uh-muhs]

adjective

1. Government.

   1. self-governing; independent; subject to its own laws only.

   2. pertaining to an autonomy, or a self-governing community.

2. having autonomy; not subject to control from outside; independent.

   a subsidiary that functioned as an autonomous unit.

3. (of a machine, device, etc.) able to operate with little or no human control or intervention.

   an autonomous vehicle.

4. Biology.

   1. existing and functioning as an independent organism.

   2. growing naturally or spontaneously, without cultivation.

autonomous

/ ɔːˈtɒnəməs /

adjective

1. (of a community, country, etc) possessing a large degree of self-government

2. of or relating to an autonomous community

3. independent of others

4. philosophy

   1. acting or able to act in accordance with rules and principles of one's own choosing

   2. (in the moral philosophy of Kant, of an individual's will) directed to duty rather than to some other end Compare heteronomous See also categorical imperative

5. biology existing as an organism independent of other organisms or parts

6. a variant spelling of autonomic

Other Word Forms

• autonomously adverb
• nonautonomous adjective
• nonautonomousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of autonomous¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; from Greek autónomos “with laws of one's own, independent,” equivalent to auto- auto- ¹ + nóm(os) “law, custom” + -os adjective suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of autonomous¹

C19: from Greek autonomos living under one's own laws, from _auto- + nomos law

Example Sentences

The incident highlights a gap in California law for the hundreds of autonomous vehicles roaming the streets of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

From Los Angeles Times

It mandates reporting of critical incidents — such as cyberattacks or unsafe behavior by autonomous AI systems — to the state’s Office of Emergency Services.

From Los Angeles Times

Zelensky called for international rules around AI and its role in weaponry, and said the development of autonomous drones and unmanned planes represented a far greater risk than traditional warfare.

From BBC

Its first model was built in 2023, and later this year it plans to produce a plane that is not only hybrid but autonomous.

From BBC

The company is launching fully autonomous operations in the city in the coming months, it said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• self-governing www.thesaurus.com
• sovereign