autonomy
aw-TON-uh-mee
/ɔːˈtɒnəmi/
The right or condition of self-government, or freedom from external control.
Refers to functional self-determination and local self-legislation, applied to regions, institutions, or personal choices.
The story behind the word. Coined from Greek autonomia, joining autos ('self') and nomos ('law'). In ancient Greece, an autonomous city-state made its own laws rather than obeying a foreign empire.
Word relationships
- sovereignty: Sovereignty is absolute ultimate power, whereas autonomy is self-rule that can exist within a larger sovereign state.
- dependence: Dependence requires reliance on external control, opposing autonomy.
Commonly confused with
- sovereignty: Autonomy is self-governance in specific matters, while sovereignty implies total political supreme power.
Word family
- autonomous (adjective): Having the freedom to govern itself.
- autonomously (adverb): In an autonomous manner.
Collocations
- grant autonomy
- regional autonomy
- degree of autonomy
Idioms & expressions
- self-governing status
Example sentences
- "The new constitution granted regional autonomy to the ethnic minority provinces." Regional governance
Memory hook
AUTO (self) + NOMY (laws) = making laws for yourself. Self-law and self-rule.
When not to use
Do not confuse with complete lawlessness or political isolation (anarchy).
Fun facts
- Immanuel Kant transformed autonomy from a political concept into an ethical cornerstone, defining moral autonomy as governing oneself through reason.
Related words
Explore more words
autonomous, self-governing, sovereignty, volition, independent, sovereign
Also appears in
- Leadership → Delegation & Empowerment
- Technology → Ethics in Science & Tech
- Law → Legal Rights & Liberties
- Arts & Literature → Censorship & Artistic Freedom
- Philosophy → Free Will & Determinism
- Philosophy → Justice & Political Philosophy
- Demographics & Urban Studies → Indigenous Populations
- Economic Theory & Analysis → Gig Economy & Freelancing
- Education & Pedagogy → Homeschooling & Alternative Ed
- Health Sciences → Medical Ethics & Bioethics
- Media, Journalism & Publishing → Freelance Journalism & Blogging
- Military Science & Warfare → Aerospace Defense & Drones
- Philosophy → Feminist Philosophy
- Political Science & Governance → Regionalism & Decentralization
- Political Science & Governance → Secession & Separatism
- Political Science & Governance → Federalism vs Unitary States
- Psychology → Motivation & Drive
- Psychology → Occupational Psychology
- Sociology & Social Anthropology → Tribal Communities & Integration
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