autonomy

/ɔːˈtɒnəmi/ (bre, ipa) · /ɔːˈtɑːnəmi/ (ame, ipa) · /ȯ-ˈtä-nə-mē/ (ame, mw)

autonomy — 名詞

1. the formal right of a country, region, or large organization to manage its own a

1.名詞C1
釋義

自治權

國家或地區自我管理的權利

the formal right of a country, region, or large organization to manage its own affairs and pass its own laws, rather than being run by an outside government or higher authority.

例句

Catalonia has long demanded greater autonomy from the Spanish central government in Madrid.

加泰隆尼亞長期以來一直要求脫離馬德里的西班牙中央政府，獲得更大的自治權。

autonomy from + [authority]

The peace treaty granted limited autonomy to the northern provinces after twenty years of fighting.

在打了二十年仗之後，和平條約給予北方各省有限的自治權。

grant autonomy to + [region]

同義詞
  • self-government

    near-equivalent; often used for territories rather than organizations

  • sovereignty

    stronger — implies full and final political power, not just delegated authority

  • home rule

    historical or political phrase; specifically a region governing local matters within a larger state

反義詞
  • dependence

    being controlled or financed by another body

  • subjugation

    stronger — being forcibly ruled by another power

文法句型

autonomy for + noun

grant/give autonomy to + noun

用法筆記

Subject is usually a country, region, province, university, or other large institution. Often paired with the adjectives 'full', 'partial', 'limited', 'regional', or 'political' to specify the scope.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher gave each student autonomy of the classroom.
✅The region was given autonomy from the central government.
💡sense 1 applies to political or institutional bodies, not individuals; for personal freedom use sense 2.

2. the freedom that a person, or sometimes a department or team, has to choose how

2.名詞C1
釋義

自主權

個人自行決定如何做事的自由

the freedom that a person, or sometimes a department or team, has to choose how they act, work, and live without being told what to do by other people.

例句

Sven values the autonomy that comes with working from home three days a week.

Sven很重視一週在家工作三天所帶來的自主權。

autonomy as a benefit of [a working arrangement]

Many elderly patients fear losing their autonomy once they move into a care home.

許多年長的病人都很害怕一旦住進安養院就會失去自主權。

lose + autonomy

同義詞
  • independence

    broader; can describe both personal and political freedom

  • self-determination

    more formal; emphasises the moral right to make one's own choices

  • freedom

    much wider in meaning; lacks the focus on decision-making

反義詞
  • dependence

    relying on others to make decisions for you

  • control

    when others, not you, decide what you do

文法句型

autonomy over + noun

have/lose autonomy

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 by checking the subject: if it is an individual person (or a small team within a larger organization), this sense applies. Often appears in workplace, medical-ethics, and parenting contexts.

常見錯誤

❌I want more autonomies in my job.
✅I want more autonomy in my job.
💡autonomy is uncountable; do not add an 's' or use 'an autonomy'.