autonomic

adjective

au·​to·​nom·​ic ˌȯ-tə-ˈnä-mik 

1

: acting or occurring involuntarily

autonomic reflexes

2

: relating to, affecting, or controlled by the autonomic nervous system or its effects or activity

autonomic drugs

autonomically

ˌȯ-tə-ˈnä-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of autonomic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Companies hijack your nervous system’s autonomic stress responses. —Christopher Elliott, Dallas Morning News, 28 Jan. 2026

Researchers are investigating how these types of autonomic nervous-system responses can be measured and used to create smart hearing aids. —IEEE Spectrum, 7 Jan. 2026

Sensations in our periphery (light, motion, temperature) compete with those at the level of autonomic (heart rate, breath rate) and metabolic systems (hunger, thirst), and even ongoing emotional and psychological concerns (a recent embarrassment or relationship trouble). —Literary Hub, 25 Nov. 2025

In some chronic human cases, the parasite also damages the autonomic nerves controlling the GI tract. —New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

autonomy + -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing autonomic

• autonomic nervous system

Rhymes for autonomic

• anatomic
• antidromic
• astronomic
• cryptogamic
• diatomic
• economic
• ergonomic
• gastronomic
• monatomic
• psychonomic
• subatomic
• taxonomic

Kids Definition

autonomic

adjective

au·​to·​nom·​ic ˌȯt-ə-ˈnäm-ik 

: of, relating to, controlled by, or being part of the autonomic nervous system

Medical Definition

autonomic

adjective

au·​to·​nom·​ic ˌȯt-ə-ˈnäm-ik 

1

a

: acting or occurring involuntarily

autonomic reflexes

b

: relating to, affecting, or controlled by the autonomic nervous system

autonomic ganglia

autonomic dysfunction

2

: having an effect upon tissue supplied by the autonomic nervous system

autonomic drugs

autonomically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb