Home › Law › Legal Rights & Liberties › Autonomy

Autonomy

aw-TON-uh-mee /ɔːˈtɒnəmi/

nounC1GRESATTOEFL

formalacademic

The right or condition of self-government; (in a moral context) the capacity of an agent to act in accordance with objective morality rather than under the influence of desires.

Autonomy emphasizes self-rule, independence, and the ability to make one's own decisions, whether for an individual, a region, or an organization. It implies freedom from external control.

The story behind the word. The word 'autonomy' comes from the Greek 'autonomia,' which literally means 'independence' or 'living by one's own laws.' It's a combination of 'autos' (meaning 'self') and 'nomos' (meaning 'law' or 'custom'). So, an autonomous entity is one that makes its own laws or governs itself. This concept was crucial in ancient Greek philosophy and has been central to political and ethical thought ever since.

Word relationships

Independence: Freedom from the control, influence, support, or help of others.
Self-governance: Control of a country, organization, or region by its own people or members.
Sovereignty: Supreme power or authority, especially of a state to govern itself.

Dependence: The state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else.
Subordination: The action of placing in a lower rank or position.
Control: The power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events.

Commonly confused with

Freedom: While 'freedom' is a broader concept of absence of restraint, 'autonomy' specifically emphasizes self-rule and the capacity for self-determination and independent moral choice.

Word family

autonomous (adjective): having the freedom to govern itself or control its own affairs.

Collocations

personal autonomy
regional autonomy
corporate autonomy
grant autonomy
exercise autonomy

Example sentences

"The region demanded greater autonomy from the central government, seeking more control over local affairs." Political independence.
"Patients have the right to autonomy in medical decisions, choosing treatments that align with their values." Individual decision-making.
"The university grants its departments considerable autonomy in curriculum development and hiring." Organizational structure.

Memory hook

Think 'AUTO-NOMY' as 'AUTO' (self) + 'NOMY' (rules/laws) = self-rule. Self-rule.

When not to use

Avoid using 'autonomy' for simple independence or self-sufficiency if a less formal word would suffice. It carries a strong connotation of self-governance and moral agency, often in a political or philosophical context.

Fun facts

The 'auto-' prefix is common in English words like 'automobile' (self-moving) and 'autograph' (self-written).