autonomous

adjective

au·​ton·​o·​mous ȯ-ˈtä-nə-məs 

1

a

: having the right or power of self-government

an autonomous territory

b

: undertaken or carried on without outside control : self-contained

an autonomous school system

2

of a mechanism, device, or computerized system : able to carry out tasks and adapt to new information without direct human guidance or intervention

autonomous vehicles

an autonomous weapons system

Leo is a fully autonomous, self-propelling baggage robot …

—Trade Arabia

also : relating to or involving such an ability

cars capable of partially autonomous driving

3

a

: existing or capable of existing independently

an autonomous zooid

b

: responding, reacting, or developing independently of the whole

an autonomous growth

4

: controlled by the autonomic nervous system

5

: of, relating to, or marked by independence, freedom, and self-direction : of, relating to, or marked by autonomy

autonomously adverb

Synonyms of autonomous

• independent
• sovereign

Choose the Right Synonym for autonomous

free, independent, sovereign, autonomous mean not subject to the rule or control of another.

free stresses the complete absence of external rule and the full right to make all of one's own decisions.

you're free to do as you like

independent implies a standing alone; applied to a state it implies lack of connection with any other having power to interfere with its citizens, laws, or policies.

the colony's struggle to become independent

sovereign stresses the absence of a superior power and implies supremacy within a thing's own domain or sphere.

separate and sovereign armed services

autonomous stresses independence in matters pertaining to self-government.

in this denomination each congregation is regarded as autonomous

Examples of autonomous in a Sentence

Native American nations are regarded as autonomous in many respects and thus not subject to a number of state and local laws.

Recent Examples on the Web

However, the latest demonstration by L3Harris shows how autonomous systems can now perform these tasks in real time without human intervention. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 19 Apr. 2026

Tesla’s robotaxis are the latest autonomous vehicles to court the Houston market. —Maliya Ellis, Houston Chronicle, 18 Apr. 2026

In the sprawling space, employees work on assembling and testing hardware, including container-sized batteries and their autonomous controllers. —Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026

On Wednesday, the California Coastal Commission approved a coastal development permit for a one-year pilot program — the first of its kind in the state — that allows the San Diego theme park to conduct up to 110, 15-minute drone shows, each using as many as 1,000 illuminated autonomous aircraft. —Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Greek autónomos "self-governing, independent" (from auto- auto- + -nomos, adjective derivative of nómos "custom, convention, law") + -ous — more at nomothetic

First Known Use

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Phrases Containing autonomous

• autonomous sensory meridian response

Rhymes for autonomous

• anonymous
• economise
• eponymous
• synonymous

Kids Definition

autonomous

adjective

au·​ton·​o·​mous ȯ-ˈtän-ə-məs 

1

: having autonomy : self-governing

2

: existing independent of anything else

autonomously adverb

Medical Definition

autonomous

adjective

au·​ton·​o·​mous ȯ-ˈtän-ə-məs 

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

autonomously adverb