autonomous

adjective

au·​ton·​o·​mous ȯ-ˈtä-nə-məs How to pronounce autonomous (audio)
1
a
: having the right or power of self-government
an autonomous territory
b
: undertaken or carried on without outside control : self-contained
an autonomous school system
2
a
: existing or capable of existing independently
an autonomous zooid
b
: responding, reacting, or developing independently of the whole
an autonomous growth
3
: controlled by the autonomic nervous system
4
: of, relating to, or marked by autonomy
autonomously adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for autonomous

free, independent, sovereign, autonomous mean not subject to the rule or control of another.

free stresses the complete absence of external rule and the full right to make all of one's own decisions.

you're free to do as you like

independent implies a standing alone; applied to a state it implies lack of connection with any other having power to interfere with its citizens, laws, or policies.

the colony's struggle to become independent

sovereign stresses the absence of a superior power and implies supremacy within a thing's own domain or sphere.

separate and sovereign armed services

autonomous stresses independence in matters pertaining to self-government.

in this denomination each congregation is regarded as autonomous

Examples of autonomous in a Sentence

Native American nations are regarded as autonomous in many respects and thus not subject to a number of state and local laws.
Recent Examples on the Web An autonomous vehicle can perform the same type of maneuvers a driver can without any hesitation. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Mass transit use, an important component of parking reform, has not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, King said, but transportation in the future will be a blend of many methods, including transit, autonomous vehicles and personal cars. Corina Vanek, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 Ghosn recalls speaking with executives who launched Apple’s bid to develop an autonomous electric vehicle in 2014. Diane Brady, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 Along with the sensing system, the probe is designed to release a small, autonomous vehicle that probes the subglacial reservoir and can further investigate points of interest, such as hydrothermal vents. IEEE Spectrum, 4 Mar. 2024 Someone rear-ends an Apple autonomous test vehicle that is trying to merge onto an expressway. Wes Davis, The Verge, 3 Mar. 2024 Pilot programs and public demonstrations showcased the capabilities of autonomous vehicles, gradually building confidence among consumers and regulators. Marc Emmer, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The need for farm-adjacent autonomous hauling will continue to grow as the driver shortage worsens in the coming years. Richard Bishop, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Earlier this month, a crowd of people smashed a driverless Waymo vehicle’s windows and ultimately set it on fire in an incident that was said to embody the discontent many people in the city have toward the autonomous vehicle operator. Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'autonomous.' 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

Greek autónomos "self-governing, independent" (from auto- auto- + -nomos, adjective derivative of nómos "custom, convention, law") + -ous — more at nomothetic

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of autonomous was in 1799

Dictionary Entries Near autonomous

Cite this Entry

“Autonomous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autonomous. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

autonomous

adjective
au·​ton·​o·​mous ȯ-ˈtän-ə-məs How to pronounce autonomous (audio)
1
: having autonomy : self-governing
2
: existing independent of anything else
autonomously adverb

Medical Definition

autonomous

adjective
au·​ton·​o·​mous ȯ-ˈtän-ə-məs How to pronounce autonomous (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or marked by autonomy
2
a
: not forming a part (as does an embryo or seed) in the developmental sequence of an organism
b
: responding, reacting, or developing independently of the whole
a tumor is an autonomous growth
3
: under control of the autonomic nervous system
autonomously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on autonomous

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