noun

autonomy

aw-TON-uh-mee

noun

The freedom to govern or manage oneself independently, without control from others.

"The province was granted autonomy over its own education system."

"Teenagers often push for more autonomy from their parents."

How to Use Autonomy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSelf-rule — the power to make your own decisions instead of being controlled by someone else.

Common pairings

grant autonomy personal autonomy a degree of autonomy

autonomies plural

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The province was granted _____ over its own education system.

Borrowed from Greek autonomía, "independence," built from autónomos, "living under one's own laws."

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