Autonomy
The state of being self-governing or independent; the capacity to act with self-direction and make one’s own decisions.
nounAutonomy
The state of being self-governing or independent; the capacity to act with self-direction and make one’s own decisions.
nounImagine This
Imagine a young adult living in a city of their own making: they choose where to live, what to study, and how to spend each day, with no outside boss dictating their decisions.
Sounds Like
aw-TAWN-uh-mee
Looks Like
auto + nomy (self-law)
Remember This
Autonomy comes from Greek autos 'self' and nomos 'law' and is used in politics (self-rule) and ethics (respect for an individual's self-governing choices).
Other Forms
Connect With
independence, self-government, sovereignty, self-determination, freedom
Note
Be careful not to confuse autonomy with mere freedom or independence in a generic sense; autonomy specifically emphasizes the capacity to govern oneself and make one's own informed choices. Also note the adjective form autonomous and the adverb form autonomously.