autonomies
|au-ton-o-my|
🇺🇸
/ɔːˈtɑːnəmi/
🇬🇧
/ɔːˈtɒnəmi/
(autonomy)
self-governance
Etymology
'autonomy' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'autonomia', where 'auto-' meant 'self' and 'nomos' meant 'law' or 'custom'.
'autonomia' passed into Late Latin/Medieval Latin as 'autonomia', then into Old French as 'autonomie' and Middle English as 'autonomie', eventually becoming the modern English word 'autonomy'.
Initially, it meant 'self-law' or 'self-governance' in a literal sense, and over time it has retained that core meaning while expanding to cover personal independence and philosophical 'self-rule'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the condition or right of self-government, especially of a political unit (e.g., a region, province, or colony) having independent authority.
The new constitution granted greater autonomies to several provinces.
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Noun 2
freedom from external control or influence; the ability of an organization or person to make independent decisions.
University departments often demand autonomies in setting curricula and hiring practices.
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Noun 3
in moral and philosophical contexts, the capacity of a person or agent to make informed, uncoerced decisions (often discussed as 'autonomy').
Bioethicists argue about patients' autonomies when making end-of-life choices.
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Last updated: 2025/11/27 11:48