heteronomous
adjective
het·er·on·o·mous
ˌhe-tə-ˈrä-nə-məs 
: subject to external controls and impositions
Examples of heteronomous in a Sentence
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Torah mi’Sinai is a form of heteronomous law, a structure of law that operates independent of any individual or group.
—
Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 14 June 2021
At least for the next decade or three, autonomous cars will have to contend with the many heteronomous cars already on American roads, including those driven by a very common form of idiot who hooks a left in front of oncoming traffic.
—Aaron Robinson, Car and Driver, 28 June 2017
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Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 14 June 2021
At least for the next decade or three, autonomous cars will have to contend with the many heteronomous cars already on American roads, including those driven by a very common form of idiot who hooks a left in front of oncoming traffic.
—Aaron Robinson, Car and Driver, 28 June 2017
Cite this Entry
“Heteronomous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heteronomous. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
heteronomous
adjective
het·er·on·o·mous
ˌhet-ə-ˈrän-ə-məs
: specialized along different lines of growth or under different controlling forces
in most segmented animals … the segmentation is heteronomous—Libbie H. Hyman
Libbie H. Hyman
heteronomously
adverb
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