autonomous
aw-TO-nuh-muhs
Autonomous (adjective) means governing or managing itself without outside control. Example: “The island is autonomous, though it still shares a currency with its neighbour.”
adjective
1
Governing or managing itself without outside control.
"The island is autonomous, though it still shares a currency with its neighbour."
"The region became autonomous, with its own parliament and laws."
"Each department operates as an autonomous unit within the company."
2
Able to act or operate on its own, without a human directly controlling it.
"Autonomous vehicles use cameras and sensors to steer without a driver."
"The farm tested an autonomous tractor that ploughed the field by itself."
"The warehouse now uses autonomous robots to move stock."
How to use autonomous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIndependent — running itself, whether that's a country, a team, or a machine.
Common pairings
autonomous region
autonomous vehicle
fully autonomous
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more autonomous
- Superlative
- most autonomous
Fill the gap
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The island is _____, though it still shares a currency with its neighbour.
Etymology
From Greek autónomos, "living under one's own laws," from autós ("self") and nomos ("law").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for autonomous
See all rhymes for autonomous →Frequently asked questions
What does “autonomous” mean?
The word “autonomous” means governing or managing itself without outside control. In plain terms, independent — running itself, whether that's a country, a team, or a machine.
How do you pronounce “autonomous”?
“Autonomous” is pronounced aw-TO-nuh-muhs (/ɔˈtɑnəməs/ in IPA).
How do you use “autonomous” in a sentence?
Here is “autonomous” used in a sentence: “The region became autonomous, with its own parliament and laws.”
What is the opposite of “autonomous”?
The opposite of “autonomous” — its antonyms — is heteronomous.
What part of speech is “autonomous”?
“Autonomous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “autonomous” come from?
The word “autonomous” comes from Greek. From Greek autónomos, "living under one's own laws," from autós ("self") and nomos ("law").
Is “autonomous” a common word?
“Autonomous” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “autonomous” have?
“Autonomous” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: governing or managing itself without outside control.
What is the difference between autonomous and automatic?
Automatic describes a machine or process that follows a fixed set of instructions without needing a human to operate it each time, while autonomous implies a greater degree of independent decision-making, such as adjusting to new situations without direct human control. An autonomous vehicle, for example, can respond to changing road conditions on its own, not just follow a preset routine.
What does it mean for a region to be autonomous?
An autonomous region governs or manages itself without outside control, often having its own local government or decision-making powers even while remaining part of a larger country or state.
How is autonomous used when describing technology?
When describing technology, autonomous means the system can operate on its own without a human directly controlling it, such as autonomous drones or autonomous software agents that make decisions independently.
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