autonomy

noun

au·ton·o·my | \ ȯ-ˈtä-nə-mē

plural autonomies

Definition of autonomy

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

Other Words from autonomy Synonyms Autonomy Has Origins in Law More Example Sentences Learn More about autonomy

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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.

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 on the Web

Free-range parenting aims to foster independence in children by giving them greater autonomy and less adult supervision. — Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, "Everything You Need to Know About the Free-Range Parenting Method," 14 Mar. 2019 The city now has more autonomy over its budget and should be able to maintain most of its services, despite ties to federal appropriations. — Li Zhou, Vox, "What’s open — and closed — during a partial government shutdown," 21 Dec. 2018 The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently put a bunch of cars equipped with partial autonomy to the test, and found that the Model 3 (with an older version of Autopilot) performed better than the competition. — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, "Tesla’s Navigate on Autopilot is like Waze on steroids," 6 Nov. 2018 Season eight's costumes also nod to the female characters' shared quests for autonomy and power in the series. — Glamour, "Why All the Game of Thrones Women Are Dressing Alike in Season 8," 12 Apr. 2019 Affirming someone’s autonomy and right to choose what’s best for them in the moment can provide a foundation for healing. — Corinne Werder, Teen Vogue, "Advocating for Other Sexual Assault Survivors Helps Me Heal From My Own Trauma," 5 Apr. 2019 The Southern District of New York traditionally has operated with a great deal of autonomy and is comprised of career prosecutors that Trump can’t fire. — Bloomberg.com, "Overseeing Mueller, Cohen Probes Makes Rosenstein a Big Target," 25 Apr. 2018 Ankara sees those forces as an arm of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, better known as the PKK, which has waged a decadeslong fight inside Turkey for more minority rights and autonomy. — Nancy A. Youssef, WSJ, "U.S. to Revise Military Strategy for Exiting Syria," 22 Feb. 2019 While a desire to make a change isn’t a bad thing at all, is your desire for change rooted in personal autonomy or diet culture? — SELF, "I'm a Personal Trainer but Here's Why You'll Never Hear Me Say 'New Year, New You'," 10 Jan. 2019

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.