TOP

Definition of autonomy noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

autonomy

noun
 
/ɔːˈtɒnəmi/
 
/ɔːˈtɑːnəmi/
[uncountable] (formal)
jump to other results
  1. the freedom for a country, a region or an organization to govern itself independently synonym independence
    • a campaign in Wales for greater autonomy
    Extra Examples
    • The Act granted limited autonomy to the republics.
    • The cantons and communes of Switzerland have preserved their autonomy.
    • There is pressure for some degree of autonomy from minorities in the north of the country.
    • Schools have gained greater autonomy from government control.
    • Head office is giving the regional offices more autonomy.
    Topics Politicsc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • considerable
    • substantial
    • greater
    … of autonomy
    • degree
    • level
    • measure
    verb + autonomy
    • enjoy
    • have
    • assert
    preposition
    • autonomy from
    phrases
    • a demand for autonomy
    See full entry
  2. the ability to act and make decisions without being controlled by anyone else
    • giving individuals greater autonomy in their own lives
    Extra Examples
    • One of the aims of modern nursing is to encourage patient autonomy.
    • We need to preserve the professional autonomy of the scientific community.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • considerable
    • substantial
    • greater
    … of autonomy
    • degree
    • level
    • measure
    verb + autonomy
    • enjoy
    • have
    • assert
    preposition
    • autonomy from
    phrases
    • a demand for autonomy
    See full entry
  3. Word Originearly 17th cent.: from Greek autonomia, from autonomos ‘having its own laws’, from autos ‘self’ + nomos ‘law’.
See autonomy in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee autonomy in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
sufficiently
adverb
 
 
From the Word list
OPAL written words
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day