Friday word: Autonomy

[med_cat]

In honor of Independence Day...:)
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au·ton·o·my noun \ȯ-ˈtä-nə-mē\

: the state of existing or acting separately from others

: the power or right of a country, group, etc., to govern itself

plural au·ton·o·mies

Full Definition
1: the quality or state of being self-governing; especially : the right of self-government
2: self-directing freedom and especially moral independence
3: a self-governing state

Examples

• a teacher who encourages individual autonomy


• The territory has been granted autonomy.


• The Catalans take the matter of their language very seriously; it is an outward indication of their autonomy, of their distinction from the rest of Spain. —Polly Evans, It's Not About the Tapas, 2006

Greek autonomos independent, from aut- self + nomos law

First Known Use: circa 1623