autonomic

adjective

au·​to·​nom·​ic ˌȯ-tə-ˈnä-mik How to pronounce autonomic (audio)
1
: acting or occurring involuntarily
autonomic reflexes
2
: relating to, affecting, or controlled by the autonomic nervous system or its effects or activity
autonomic drugs
autonomically adverb

Examples of autonomic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Botulism is a disease of the neuromuscular junction that causes irritability, constipation, autonomic disturbances such as high blood pressure and fast heart rate, a weak cry, drooping eyelids, poor feeding, lethargy, weakness, and respiratory difficulties. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2024 This initially presents as an overall decrease in physical activity and later progresses to uncontrollable tremors and the loss of autonomic activities like breathing and heart function. IEEE Spectrum, 11 July 2023 Does the magic happen through autonomic stress reduction, having a place to meet people and get active, or just by seeing something beautiful every day? Aaron Reuben, Outside Online, 11 June 2019 Others are dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy and pure autonomic failure. The Conversation, oregonlive, 29 May 2023 The autonomic connection makes sense, because our hearts are under its jurisdiction. Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2019 There are several different types of neuropathy, with peripheral neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy being the most common. Elizabeth Woolley, Verywell Health, 28 May 2023 Poppy Crum, the neuroscientist who runs research at Dolby, has been working on all the ways that, for example, seeing images in really high dynamic ranges can trigger not just autonomic responses—like flushing from heat exposure after just seeing video of flames—but psychological ones too. Adam Rogers, Wired, 29 Apr. 2021 The nerves on your cornea detect the presence of syn-propanethial-S-oxide and send the signal to your central nervous system (Fig 2), which then stimulate the autonomic nerve fibers on the lachrymal glands to produce tears [2] in order to dilute the syn-propanethial-S-oxide. Ashton Yoon, Discover Magazine, 6 June 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'autonomic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

autonomy + -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of autonomic was in 1888

Dictionary Entries Near autonomic

Cite this Entry

“Autonomic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autonomic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

autonomic

adjective
au·​to·​nom·​ic ˌȯt-ə-ˈnäm-ik How to pronounce autonomic (audio)
: of, relating to, controlled by, or being part of the autonomic nervous system

Medical Definition

autonomic

adjective
au·​to·​nom·​ic ˌȯt-ə-ˈnäm-ik How to pronounce autonomic (audio)
1
a
: acting or occurring involuntarily
autonomic reflexes
b
: relating to, affecting, or controlled by the autonomic nervous system
autonomic ganglia
autonomic dysfunction
2
: having an effect upon tissue supplied by the autonomic nervous system
autonomic drugs
autonomically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on autonomic

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