Origin: Greek suffix -nomy
Autonomy has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
personal independence
"The new policy grants students greater autonomy to choose their own course schedules."
The right or condition of self-government; freedom to act or function independently.
"The newly formed nation fought hard to secure its autonomy from colonial rule so it could govern itself without external interference."
In plain English: Autonomy is having control over your own life and making decisions for yourself without needing permission from others.
"The new law guarantees every region its political autonomy to manage local affairs without interference from the central government."
Usage: Autonomy refers specifically to the capacity for independent action rather than merely being alone, distinguishing it from synonyms like solitude which imply isolation without agency. Use this term when describing political self-rule or personal decision-making power where external control is absent.
The word autonomy comes from Ancient Greek, where it originally meant "freedom to use its own laws" and implied independence. It entered English through the combination of auto- (meaning self) and -nomy (referring to a system of rules).