/ ɔːˈtɒnəmi; NAmE ɔːˈtɑːn-/ noun [ U ]
1.
the freedom for a country, a region or an organization to govern itself independently
SYN independence :
a campaign in Wales for greater autonomy
2.
the ability to act and make decisions without being controlled by anyone else :
giving individuals greater autonomy in their own lives
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from Greek autonomia , from autonomos having its own laws, from autos self + nomos law.