Meaning & use
autonomous entity
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountableformaltechnical
A group or system that governs itself and makes its own decisions without outside control.
Grammar: Countable: one autonomous entity, two autonomous entities.
Patterns
- an autonomous entity within something
- treat something as an autonomous entity
The region became an autonomous entity after the peace agreement.
The company set up its research division as an autonomous entity.
In this theory, the mind is not an autonomous entity but part of the body.
nouncountablecomputingtechnical
In computing, a program or device that can operate and make decisions on its own.
Grammar: Often used in AI and robotics contexts.
Patterns
- an autonomous entity in a network
- act as an autonomous entity
Each drone is an autonomous entity that can avoid obstacles.
The software agents are autonomous entities that negotiate with each other.
Word forms
| plural | autonomous entities |
|---|
Common combinations
- fully autonomous entity
- The territory is not a fully autonomous entity; it still depends on the central government.
- become an autonomous entity
- The school became an autonomous entity in 2010.
- function as an autonomous entity
- The committee functions as an autonomous entity within the university.
- autonomous entity status
- They are seeking autonomous entity status for the region.
Synonyms and how they differ
- self-governing body
- More common in political contexts; 'autonomous entity' is more formal and technical.
- independent organization
- Focuses on freedom from outside control; 'autonomous entity' can also refer to non-human systems.
Opposites
Word family
- autonomy noun
- The state of being self-governing.
- autonomous adjective
- Having self-government or acting independently.
- autonomously adverb
- In a self-governing or independent way.
Commonly confused: autonomous entity or automatic entity?
autonomous entity vs automatic entity
Not a standard term. 'Automatic' means working by itself without human control, while 'autonomous' means making its own decisions.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'autonomous entity' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 correctly uses 'autonomous entity' as a noun for a self-operating system. Option 1 is wrong because 'autonomous entity' is not a feeling. Option 2 is ungrammatical. Option 3 uses it as a verb, which is incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “autonomous entity”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.