The word “autonomy” comes from the Greek roots:
- “Auto-“ (αὐτο-): meaning “self”
- “-nomos” (νόμος): meaning “law” or “rule”
When combined, “autonomos” (αὐτόνομος) in Greek means “self-governing” or “having its own laws.” The term was adopted into Latin as “autonomia,” and then into English as “autonomy.” The concept broadly refers to the ability to make one’s own decisions or govern oneself independently.