autonomous
Other forms: autonomously
Autonomous describes things that function separately or independently. Once you move out of your parents' house and get your own job, you will be an autonomous member of the family.
This adjective autonomous is often used of countries, regions, or groups that have the right to govern themselves: Vatican City, where the Catholic pope lives, is an autonomous territory located within the city limits of Rome. The corresponding noun is autonomy, referring to the state of existing or functioning independently. Autonomous comes from the Greek roots autos, "self," and nomos, "law."
Definitions of autonomous
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existing as an independent entity“the partitioning of India created two separate and autonomous jute economies”
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Synonyms:
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independent
free from external control and constraint
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independent
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(of political bodies) not controlled by outside forces“an autonomous judiciary”
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synonyms:
independent, self-governing, sovereign
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free
able to act at will; not hampered; not under compulsion or restraint
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free
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(of persons) free from external control and constraint in e.g. action and judgment
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synonyms:
self-directed, self-reliant
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independent
free from external control and constraint
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independent
Pronunciation
US
/ɑˈtɑnəmɪs/
UK
/əˈtɒnəməs/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘autonomous'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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