autonomy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The freedom to make your own decisions and act independently.

   Working from home gave her much more autonomy over her daily schedule.

2. 2
   noun

   The right of a country or region to govern itself.

   The region has been seeking greater autonomy from the central government.

Borrowed from Ancient Greek αὐτονομῐ́ᾱ (autonomĭ́ā, “freedom to use its own laws, independence”), from αὐτόνομος (autónomos, “living under one's own laws, independent”) + -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā, “-y, -ia”, nominal suffix). By surface analysis, auto- (“self”) + -nomy (“a system of rules or laws about a particular field”).

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