Agency Dictionary
autonomy
nounPronunciation: /ɔːˈtɒn.ə.mi/
In Portuguese: autonomia
Philosophy & EthicsWhat does “autonomy” mean?
The condition or power of self-governance, independent decision-making, and freedom from external control.
Etymology
From Greek autonomia, "independence, the right to live under one's own laws", from autonomos, formed from autos ("self") and nomos ("law, custom"). The word entered English in the 17th century in the political sense, the self-government of a state or community. Its use for the capacity of a person to decide by his or her own reason owes much to the moral philosophy of the 18th century, and the sense of independence in work and daily life is a further extension.
Usage note
Used of persons, institutions, regions and machines. In ethics and medicine, autonomy names the right of a person to make informed decisions about his or her own life.
Synonyms
- independence
- self-rule
- self-government
- self-determination
- freedom
- sovereignty
Often confused with
- independence
- Independence is complete separation from outside control; autonomy is self-government that may exist inside a larger whole, as in an autonomous region.
Word family
- autonomous
- autonomously
- autonomist
- autonomic
Rhymes with
- economy
- astronomy
- taxonomy
- gastronomy
Usage examples
But also because if the new approach to marketing we have been discussing has autonomy as its foundation, that means that you should also be able to create.
Concepts
- Creative AutonomyCreative autonomy is the organizational freedom granted to specialists to make decisions regarding craft, methodology, and aesthetic execution. It empowers professionals…
- Project Management TriangleThe project management triangle is a strategic model representing the constraints of time, cost, and quality in executing any project. It posits that optimizing two…
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
- Antithesisnoun
- A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
- Discursiveadjective
- Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
- Treatisenoun
- A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
- Maximnoun
- A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
- rhetoricnoun
- The art of effective and persuasive speaking or writing, especially through strategic linguistic devices.
- Tangibleadjective
- Perceptible by the sense of touch or capable of being physically grasped and measured in concrete physical reality. It distinguishes concrete material products from virtual or intellectual entities.
- Holisticadjective
- Characterized by the comprehension of parts as intimately interconnected and explicable only in reference to the whole.
- Abyssnoun
- A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm, either in physical geography or metaphorical psychological depth. It evokes feelings of unfathomable emptiness or existential peril.
- aestheticsnoun
- A set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, artistic taste, and style.
- Affectnoun
- An expressed or experienced emotion, feeling, or visceral response to a stimulus in psychology and philosophy.
- Agapenoun
- A selfless, unconditional, and altruistic form of love often associated in theology with divine charity.
- Ambiguitynoun
- The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness or uncertainty of meaning.
Also from these editions: terms
- vocationnoun
- A strong innate inclination or sense of purpose toward a particular career, craft, or calling.
- wireframenoun
- A skeletal visual guide that outlines the basic structure, hierarchy, and functionality of a user interface.
- briefingnoun
- A concise set of instructions or background information provided to guide a project or creative assignment.
- concoctverb
- To invent, devise, or fabricate something novel by combining various elements or ideas.
- densitynoun
- The quantity of mass, pixels, or information concentrated within a given unit of area or space.
- diagnosticnoun
- An analytical determination or judgment identifying the underlying nature, cause, or source of a problem.
- hippocraticadjective
- Relating to Hippocrates or the ethical medical code that prioritizes patient care and moral duty.
- imposternoun
- A person who practices deception under an assumed character, identity, or false professional claim.
- metamodernadjective
- Relating to a cultural paradigm that oscillates between modern sincerity and postmodern irony.
- sedentaryadjective
- Characterized by or requiring much sitting, little physical movement, or low levels of daily activity.
- sketchnoun
- A rapid, informal drawing or preliminary outline capturing the essential features of an idea.
Also from these editions: concepts
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- Frank SinatraFrank Sinatra was an American singer and actor, one of the best known popular singers of the twentieth century. The Agency editorial names him twice, both times through…
- AviciiAvicii was the stage name of Tim Bergling, a Swedish DJ and music producer known for songs such as Levels and Wake Me Up. Issue.3 names him only as the credit of a music…
- For A Better DayFor A Better Day is a song by Avicii listed in the Chords music recommendation section of Issue.3. The edition presents the song with its title and artist name, with no…
- HeartbeatHeartbeat is a song by Danit listed in the Chords music recommendation section of Issue.3. The edition presents the song with its title and artist name, with no…
- Hero Of WarHero Of War is a song by Rise Against listed in the Chords music recommendation section of Issue.3. The edition presents the song with its title and band name, with no…
- My WayMy Way is a song by Frank Sinatra listed in the Chords music recommendation section of Issue.3. The edition presents the song with its title and artist name, with no…
- Aesthetic MasteryAesthetic mastery is the refined capability to orchestrate form, harmony, hierarchy, and meaning into compelling creative work. It is developed through years of…
- Aesthetic SubjectivismAesthetic subjectivism is the philosophical view that beauty, artistic merit, and design quality reside entirely in the observer's subjective feelings rather than…
- Democratization of ToolsThe democratization of tools is the socioeconomic and technological trend where specialized production software becomes widely accessible, affordable, and intuitive for…