BharatNotes Autonomous
adjective/ɔːˈtɒnəməs/
Having the power or right of self-governance, free from external control — used to describe constitutional bodies that function independently of the executive.
Usage in a UPSC answer
Genuine cooperative federalism demands that States function as autonomous units of governance, free to legislate within their constitutional domain rather than as mere administrative agents of the Union.
Synonyms
self-governingindependentsovereignself-determiningself-rulingfree
Antonyms
dependentsubordinatesubjectheteronomous
Word Family
autonomy (n), autonomous (adj), autonomously (adv), autonomies (n pl), semi-autonomous (adj)
Root
Greek autos (self) + nomos (law) → autonomos (self-legislating).
Etymology
From Greek autonomos, from autos ("self") + nomos ("law"), literally meaning "self-legislating."
Memory Hook
Auto- ('self', as in automobile) + -nomous ('law', as in economy's nomos): one who makes their OWN laws — self-ruling.
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