autonomous
au·ton·o·mous
adjective \ȯ-ˈtä-nə-məs\: existing or acting separately from other things or people
: having the power or right to govern itself
Full Definition of AUTONOMOUS
1
: of, relating to, or marked by autonomy
2
a : having the right or power of self-government b : undertaken or carried on without outside control : self-contained <an autonomous school system>
3
a : existing or capable of existing independently <an autonomous zooid> b : responding, reacting, or developing independently of the whole <an autonomous growth>
See Examples of AUTONOMOUS
- <Native American nations are regarded as autonomous in many respects and thus not subject to a number of state and local laws.>
Origin of AUTONOMOUS
Greek autonomos independent, from aut- + nomos law — more at nimble
First Known Use: 1800
Related to AUTONOMOUS
- Synonyms
- free, freestanding, independent, self-governed, self-governing, self-ruling, separate, sovereign (also sovran)
- Antonyms
- dependent, nonautonomous, non-self-governing, subject, unfree
See Synonym Discussion at free
Other Biology Terms
Rhymes with AUTONOMOUS
au·ton·o·mous
adjective \ȯ-ˈtän-ə-məs\ (Medical Dictionary)Medical Definition of AUTONOMOUS
1
: of, relating to, or marked by autonomy
2
a : not forming a part (as does an embryo or seed) in the developmental sequence of an organism b : responding, reacting, or developing independently of the whole <a tumor is an autonomous growth>
3
: under control of the autonomic nervous system
—au·ton·o·mous·ly adverb
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