noun
autonomy
aw-TAH-nuh-mee/ɔːˈtɑːnəmi/
The freedom and ability to govern oneself and make one's own choices.
The wheelchair user's autonomy allows a free choice of route.
Etymology
The combination of “one’s own” and “law” presents independence as the power to govern oneself. First applied in English to states, it later came to describe a person’s capacity for independent action.
In context
Urban centers especially, often granted women more autonomy than rural areas. In Cologne, a thriving mercantile city, married women could sometimes own property separately from their husbands, engage in trade independently
More examples
- The region demanded greater political autonomy.
- She valued the autonomy that came with running her own business.
- The arrangement balances local autonomy with national standards.
Forms
autonomous adjective — Able to operate or govern without outside control.
Similar words
- independence
- Can include freedom from financial support as well as control.
- self-determination
- Emphasizes choosing one's own future or political status.