Pronunciation: [ɔːtˈɒnəməs] (IPA) 
The word "autonomous" is spelled awh-tah-nuh-muh s in English. It is pronounced [aw-tuh-nuh-muhs], with stress on the first syllable. The initial "a" sound is pronounced like the "ah" in "father". The "o" sound is pronounced as in "pot". The "t" and "n" sounds are pronounced normally. The final "s" is pronounced like a "z" sound. "Autonomous" means having the ability to operate independently, without external control.
Autonomous is an adjective that describes a person or thing having the ability to act independently, self-govern, or make decisions without external control. Derived from the Greek word "autonomos," meaning self-governing, autonomous refers to an entity's capability to function or operate independently, often through its own power or authority.
When applied to individuals, autonomous refers to a person's ability to think and act independently, without needing guidance or supervision from others. Autonomous individuals have the capacity to make their own decisions, take responsibility for their actions, and govern their own lives.
In the realm of technology, autonomous is often used in reference to machines, systems, or vehicles that can operate or perform tasks without human intervention. Examples of autonomous technology include self-driving cars, drones, or robots. These autonomous systems are designed to make decisions and execute commands based on their programming or artificial intelligence capabilities, without direct human control.
In the context of politics or governance, autonomous can describe regions or organizations that have the power to govern themselves and make decisions independently from a central authority. Autonomous regions, for instance, have some degree of self-governance while remaining within a larger political structure.
Overall, the term autonomous highlights the ability of a person, entity, or system to function independently, without external control or influence.
Under self-government.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word autonomous has its origins in the Greek language. It derives from the Greek word autonomos, which is a combination of auto meaning self and nomos meaning law. Thus, autonomous can be interpreted as self-governed or self-lawed.
