autonomy

noun au·ton·o·my \ ȯ-ˈtä-nə-mē \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Examples: autonomy in a Sentence

Editor's Note: autonomy Has Origins in Law

Definition of autonomy

plural autonomies

1 : the quality or state of being self-governing; especially : the right of self-government

The territory was granted autonomy.

2 : self-directing freedom and especially moral independence

personal autonomy

3 : a self-governing state

See autonomy defined for English-language learners

See autonomy defined for kids

Examples of autonomy in a Sentence

The Catalans take the matter of their language very seriously; it is an outward indication of their autonomy, of their distinction from the rest of Spain. —Polly Evans, It's Not About the Tapas, 2006
The term empire implies more than simple cultural dominance or preeminent military power. It applies to states that use force to occupy and control a group of other states or regions. The conquered states, robbed of autonomy and political independence, become colonies, provinces, or territories of the imperial power. Taxes are levied, laws are imposed, soldiers are conscripted, governors are installed—all without the consent of the subjugated state. —Michael J. Glennon, Wilson Quarterly, Summer 2002
The social payoff of the new knowledge would be new technology, then new industries and new jobs. Compton got nowhere with the administration, partly because he was an anti-New Dealer, partly because the government was unwilling to grant scientists the autonomy that they claimed, and partly because his program represented a trickle-down approach to economic recovery. —Daniel J. Kevles, New Republic, 30 Sept. 2002
Usually, Americans think of freedom as a condition of personal autonomy, independence from the will of others. This way of thinking reflects just the kind of distinction—between oneself and the rest of the group of which one is a part—that Dewey considered false. —Louis Menand, The Metaphysical Club, 2001
a teacher who encourages individual autonomy
The territory has been granted autonomy.

Recent Examples of autonomy from the Web

Williams journeyed back to the mother country in the 1640s to obtain a royal charter and found England embroiled in a civil war, amid fierce debates on religion and legislative autonomy that were to parallel those in America.

— roger lowenstein, WSJ, "‘God, War, and Providence’ Review: When Conquest Was Puritanical," 13 June 2018
The family suffered a new blow after Abbas ordered his West Bank autonomy government to curtail its regular support payments to Gaza, in hopes of pressing Hamas to hand over authority.

— The Christian Science Monitor, "Amid growing poverty in Gaza, aid trickles in," 8 June 2018
The Supreme Court’s decision to revoke a 26-year federal ban on sports gambling does not legalize the act across the country but rather grants states autonomy to make their own decisions on the subject.

— ross dellenger, SI.com, "Like the Rest of College Football, the SEC Is Still Building Its Game Plan for Sports Betting," 5 June 2018
That's right, cosmic warriors: A short life line signifies independence and autonomy (take that, Josh from fourth grade).

— aliza kelly faragher, Allure, "A Beginner's Guide to Reading Palms," 4 June 2018
Technically, speaking Cars and trucks are taking very similar roads to autonomy.

— chuck tannert, Ars Technica, "Autonomous trucks will haul your stuff before you ride in a self-driving car," 29 May 2018
Chief Executive Officer John Flannery, who took over in mid-2017, now is looking at selling or spinning off other divisions, while shrinking corporate operations and giving business units more autonomy.

— Bloomberg.com, "How a GE Exec Made $30 Million By Jumping Ship," 2 May 2018
For all too many pundits and politicians, when progressives control the federal government, state autonomy is ominous.

— david french, National Review, "California’s Soft Secession Accelerates," 26 Jan. 2018
Both of these priorities — autonomy and inclusion — are strongly present in American history.

— michael gerson, Anchorage Daily News, "Despite Roe v. Wade, abortion debate will never be settled," 22 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'autonomy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

autonomy Has Origins in Law

Since nomos is Greek for "law", something autonomous makes its own laws. The amount of autonomy enjoyed by French-speaking Quebec, or of Palestinians in certain towns in Israel, or of independent-minded regions of Russia, have become major issues. The autonomy of individual states in the United States has posed serious constitutional questions for two centuries. The autonomy of children is almost always limited by their parents. But when those parents are elderly and begin driving poorly and getting confused about their finances, their children may see the need to limit their autonomy in much the same way.