Autonomy

Pronunciation

Origin

From Ancient Greek αὐτονομία, from αὐτόνομος, from αὐτός ("self") + νόμος ("law"). Surface analysis -("self") + nomy("a system of rules or laws about a particular field") + -.

Full definition of autonomy

Noun

1. Self-government; freedom to act or function independently.
2. (philosophy) The capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision.
3. (mechanics) The capacity of a system to make a decision about its actions without the involvement of another system or operator.
4. (Christianity) The status of a church whose highest-ranking bishop is appointed by the patriarch of the mother church, but which is self-governing in all other respects. Compare autocephaly.

Synonyms

• (self-government) nationhood, nationality, sovereignty, independence

Antonyms

• (self-government) dependency, nonautonomy, inoperability
• (capacity to make independent decisions) heteronomy, incapacity

Derived terms

• autonomic
• autonomous, autonomously