autonomy
Americannoun
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independence or freedom, as of the will or one's actions.
the autonomy of the individual.
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the condition of being autonomous; self-government or the right of self-government.
The rebels demanded autonomy from Spain.
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a self-governing community.
noun
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the right or state of self-government, esp when limited
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a state, community, or individual possessing autonomy
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freedom to determine one's own actions, behaviour, etc
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philosophy
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the doctrine that the individual human will is or ought to be governed only by its own principles and laws See also categorical imperative
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the state in which one's actions are autonomous
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of autonomy
First recorded in 1615–25; from Greek autonomía “independence,” equivalent to autónom(os) autonomous + -ia -y 3
Explanation
When a group wants to govern itself or a person wants to make independent decisions, they are looking for autonomy. Autonomy comes from the Greek roots auto meaning "self" and nomos meaning "custom" or "law." This reflects the political sense of the word — a group's right to self-government or self-rule. When a person seeks autonomy, he or she would like to be able to make decisions independently from an authority figure. Can you relate?
Vocabulary lists containing autonomy
To Thine Own Self Be True: Auto
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Human Geography - Middle School
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This Week in Words: September 22 - 28, 2018
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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.
See Examples For:
Money is great, but not at the expense of your peace, autonomy and joy.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
“The future of creativity depends on respecting the ownership and autonomy of those who make it possible.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
He says flat owners would still have to pay towards the upkeep of their building, but they would have "much more autonomy" over decision-making under the proposals.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
Yeong-hye’s claim of autonomy over her body and mind is unacceptable to her entire family.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
Scholars debate these estimates, but nobody disputes that the Haudenosaunee exemplified the formidable tradition of limited government and personal autonomy shared by many cultures north of the Rio Grande.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
The underlying premise is that charter schools must have certain autonomies and flexibilities to function effectively.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 9, 2023
Spinning on an axis of anxiety, “Huesera” raises the provocative idea that motherhood can feel akin to a curse stripping one of stability and sacred autonomies.
From New York Times ● Jun. 8, 2022
They say it is an important step in closing the wounds left by the state takeover without sacrificing the autonomies that they say have been essential for driving academic progress.
From Washington Post ● May 10, 2016
Opinions in Spain would split according to autonomies and political colour.
From Economist ● May 15, 2012
The Constitution will provide the nation with the possibility of exercising its special energies in local autonomies delimited by natural, social and economic conditions.
From The Russian Revolution; the Jugo-Slav Movement by Kerner, Robert Joseph
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.
