autonomous
Acting independently or having the freedom to govern itself.
Examples
In a meeting
“We want autonomous teams that can make decisions without waiting for approval.”
Over coffee
“My teenager is pretty autonomous — makes her own meals and manages her homework.”
Why this word
independent
autonomous emphasizes self-governing capability and self-direction, while independent simply means not relying on others
self-sufficient
autonomous focuses on self-governance and decision-making authority, while self-sufficient emphasizes not needing external resources
free
autonomous specifies having internal control over one's actions, while free broadly means without constraint
Usage tip
Implies self-governance, not isolation. Autonomous teams still collaborate — they just don't need micromanagement.
Etymology
Greek autonomos — autos (self) + nomos (law), literally 'self-governing'
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Related words
delegate
To assign a task or responsibility to someone else.
incentivize
Motivate someone by offering rewards or benefits
deplete
To use up or reduce a resource significantly
decouple
To separate two processes or timelines that were previously linked or dependent
field
To receive and deal with questions, requests, or issues
mitigate
To make something less severe, serious, or painful.