autonomous

views updated May 18 2018

au·ton·o·mous / ôˈtänəməs/ • adj. (of a country or region) having self-government, at least to a significant degree: the federation included sixteen autonomous republics. ∎  acting independently or having the freedom to do so: an autonomous committee of the school board. ∎  (in Kantian moral philosophy) acting in accordance with one's moral duty rather than one's desires.DERIVATIVES: au·ton·o·mous·ly adv.

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