autonomy
7 synonyms and 2 antonyms for autonomy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The freedom to govern or manage oneself independently, without control from others.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
self-government
self-rule
self-determination
self-governance
self-direction
Antonyms
How to use autonomy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
grant autonomy
personal autonomy
a degree of autonomy
Etymology
Borrowed from Greek autonomía, "independence," built from autónomos, "living under one's own laws."
Full origin of autonomy →Frequently asked questions
What does “autonomy” mean?
The word “autonomy” means the freedom to govern or manage oneself independently, without control from others. In plain terms, self-rule — the power to make your own decisions instead of being controlled by someone else.
How do you pronounce “autonomy”?
“Autonomy” is pronounced aw-TON-uh-mee (/ɔˈtɑ.nə.mi/ in IPA).
How do you use “autonomy” in a sentence?
Here is “autonomy” used in a sentence: “The province was granted autonomy over its own education system.”
What part of speech is “autonomy”?
“Autonomy” is a noun.
Where does the word “autonomy” come from?
The word “autonomy” comes from Greek. Borrowed from Greek autonomía, "independence," built from autónomos, "living under one's own laws.".
Is “autonomy” a common word?
“Autonomy” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between autonomy and independence?
'Autonomy' is the freedom to govern or manage oneself, often within a larger system, while 'independence' usually means being fully separate and self-reliant. A region can have autonomy while still belonging to a country, whereas independence implies complete self-rule.
What is the difference between autonomy and freedom?
'Freedom' is a broad term for the absence of restriction, while 'autonomy' specifically means the capacity to make one's own decisions and govern oneself. Autonomy is a particular kind of freedom focused on self-direction and control.
What is the difference between autonomy and sovereignty?
'Autonomy' is the freedom to manage one's own affairs, often granted within a larger authority, while 'sovereignty' is supreme, independent authority over a territory. A province may have autonomy, but a fully sovereign state answers to no higher power.
What preposition is used with autonomy?
'Autonomy' is often followed by 'from' to show what one is independent of, as in 'autonomy from central government,' or 'over' to show what one controls, as in 'autonomy over local decisions.' 'Greater autonomy' is a very common collocation.
