Definition

1. Noun:
   • Personal independence; self-governance: The condition or quality of being self-governing, especially the right or ability of an individual, group, or organization to make its own decisions and control its own affairs without external control.
   • Political independence; self-determination: The right of a country, region, or other political entity to govern itself independently.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The university fought to maintain its autonomy from government interference. (The university wanted to keep its right to make its own decisions.)
  • Teenagers often seek more autonomy from their parents as they grow older. (Teenagers want more personal freedom to make their own choices.)
  • The region was granted full autonomy after the peace treaty. (The region was given the right to self-rule.)

Advanced Usage and Concepts

• Moral autonomy: In philosophy, the capacity of an individual to make rational, uncoerced decisions based on their own moral principles.
  • Kantian ethics places a high value on the moral autonomy of the rational individual.
• Professional autonomy: The freedom of a professional or a profession to exercise its judgment and practice independently.
  • Doctors value their professional autonomy when making treatment decisions for patients.

Variants and Related Words

• Autonomous (adjective): Having the right or power of self-government; acting independently.
  • The car is equipped with an autonomous driving system.
• Autonomously (adverb): In a self-governing or independent manner.
  • The satellite operates autonomously for months at a time.

Synonyms

• Self-rule: Government of a country or region by its own people.
• Self-government: The government of a country by its own people, especially after having been a colony.
• Independence: The fact or state of being independent; freedom from outside control or support.
• Sovereignty: Supreme power or authority; the authority of a state to govern itself.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "A degree of autonomy": A certain amount or level of freedom to act independently.
  • The branch managers were given a degree of autonomy in setting their budgets.
• "To exercise autonomy": To use one's right or power to govern oneself.
  • The committee can exercise autonomy in selecting the award winners.

Noun

1. personal independence
2. immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence