adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˌɔː.təˈnɒm.ɪk/
General-American:/ˌɔt.əˈnɑm.ɪk/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɒmɪk
CMU ARPABET:AO2 T AH0 N AA1 M IH0 K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Acting or occurring involuntarily, without conscious control.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
relating to or controlled by the autonomic nervous system
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
autonomic reflexes
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h2ewder.? Proto-Indo-European *sóder.? Proto-Indo-European *h2ewder. Ancient Greek αὖ (aû) Ancient Greek τόν (tón)? Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós) Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-) Proto-Indo-European *nem-der. Proto-Indo-European *németi Proto-Hellenic *némō Ancient Greek νέμω (némō) Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Hellenic *-os Ancient Greek -ος (-os) Ancient Greek νόμος (nómos) ▲ Proto-Hellenic *-os Ancient Greek -ος (-os) Ancient Greek αὐτόνομος (autónomos) Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh2 Proto-Hellenic *-íā Ancient Greek -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā) Ancient Greek αὐτονομῐ́ᾱ (autonomĭ́ā)bor. English autonomy Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English autonomic From autonomy + -ic.
Across languages
Translations
5 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
autonòmic
— acting or occurring involuntarily, without conscious control
French:
autonome
— acting or occurring involuntarily, without conscious control
Polish:
autonomiczny
— acting or occurring involuntarily, without conscious control
Hungarian:
autonóm
— pertaining to the autonomic nervous system
Polish:
autonomiczny
— pertaining to the autonomic nervous system