autonomy

/ȯ-ˈtä-nə-mē/

borrowed from New Latin autonomia, borrowed from Greek autonomía "self-governance, independence, licence," from autónomos "independent, autonomous-ia

noun

  1. the quality or state of being self-governing; especially : the right of self-government

  2. self-directing freedom and especially moral independence

  3. a self-governing state