autonomous
Autonomous describes something that has the power or right of self-government or functions independently without outside control. It is frequently applied to political entities, individual workers, or technologies like self-driving cars that operate without human intervention.
Examples
3 of 5My new vacuum is completely autonomous and cleans the house while I am at work.
My new vacuum is completely autonomous and cleans the house while I am at work.
The region was granted an autonomous status following years of negotiations for self-rule.
The region was granted an autonomous status following years of negotiations for self-rule.
I love being a freelancer because I am totally autonomous and pick my own hours.
I love being a freelancer because I am totally autonomous and pick my own hours.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of an 'Auto-Nomous' person as someone who makes their own 'laws' (nomos) for their 'self' (auto).
Quick Quiz
The company decided to give the regional departments more ______ power to speed up innovation and local decision-making.
Correct!
The correct answer is: autonomous
Examples
My new vacuum is completely autonomous and cleans the house while I am at work.
everydayMy new vacuum is completely autonomous and cleans the house while I am at work.
The region was granted an autonomous status following years of negotiations for self-rule.
formalThe region was granted an autonomous status following years of negotiations for self-rule.
I love being a freelancer because I am totally autonomous and pick my own hours.
informalI love being a freelancer because I am totally autonomous and pick my own hours.
The study examines how autonomous learning strategies improve student retention in higher education.
academicThe study examines how autonomous learning strategies improve student retention in higher education.
We need to create autonomous teams that can make decisions without waiting for management approval.
businessWe need to create autonomous teams that can make decisions without waiting for management approval.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
autonomous zone
an area free from standard government control
autonomous learning
student-led education without direct instruction
autonomous underwater vehicle
a robot that travels underwater without a pilot
Often Confused With
Automatic refers to a machine following a set routine, whereas autonomous implies the ability to make independent choices or govern oneself.
Anonymous means having an unknown name, while autonomous means being independent; they sound similar but have no shared meaning.
Usage Notes
While it can describe machines (AI), in social and workplace contexts it emphasizes the freedom and responsibility of an individual or group to act on their own.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'autonomous' when they simply mean 'automatic'. Remember that autonomy implies a level of 'intelligence' or 'governance', not just mechanical repetition.
Memory Tip
Think of an 'Auto-Nomous' person as someone who makes their own 'laws' (nomos) for their 'self' (auto).
Word Origin
From the Greek word 'autonomos', where 'autos' means 'self' and 'nomos' means 'law' or 'rule'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many Western business cultures, being an 'autonomous worker' is highly valued as it shows maturity and the ability to work without micromanagement.
Quick Quiz
The company decided to give the regional departments more ______ power to speed up innovation and local decision-making.
Correct!
The correct answer is: autonomous
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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