/ ɔːˈtɒnəməs; NAmE ɔːˈtɑːn-/ adjective
1.
( of a country, a region or an organization ) able to govern itself or control its own affairs
SYN independent :
an autonomous republic / state / province
2.
( of a person ) able to do things and make decisions without help from anyone else
► au·tono·mous·ly adverb
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WORD ORIGIN
early 19th cent.: from Greek autonomos having its own laws + -ous .