autonomy

IPA: ɔtˈɑnʌmi

(uncountable) The right or condition of self-government; freedom to act or function independently.
(government, countable) A self-governing country or region.
(philosophy, uncountable) The capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision.
(mechanics, uncountable) The capacity of a system to make a decision about its actions without the involvement of another system or operator.
(Christianity, uncountable) The status of a church whose highest-ranking bishop is appointed by the patriarch of the mother church, but which is self-governing in all other respects. Compare autocephaly.

Examples of "autonomy" in Sentences

The company promotes autonomy among its employees, allowing them to make decisions independently
As a teenager, gaining autonomy from my parents was an important step towards adulthood
The country fought for independence and autonomy from colonial rule
Giving teenagers more autonomy can help them develop important life skills
The new policy was aimed at granting more autonomy to local governments