autónoma

Autónoma is the feminine singular form of the Spanish adjective autónomo, meaning self-governing or independent. The word comes from Greek autonomos, from auto- “self” and nomos “law” or “rule,” and entered Spanish through the Latin and Romance linguistic tradition. As an adjective, it describes something that has autonomy or the capacity to govern itself.

In political and administrative contexts, autónoma is commonly used to refer to an autonomous political division within a state. In Spain, the term is central in the category comunidad autónoma, of which there are 17, plus the two autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. These entities possess their own parliaments, governments and Statutes of Autonomy, allowing limited self-government in areas such as education, health and transport, within the framework of the Spanish constitution.

The feminine form also appears in other expressions and may refer to a female who works independently: una trabajadora autónoma or una persona autónoma. In institutional naming, autónoma is used as a complement in proper names of institutions that enjoy some degree of independence, for example universities such as la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid or la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México.

In broader usage, phrases like autoridad autónoma or organismo autónomo describe entities that operate with administrative and financial independence from direct government control. The related noun autonomía denotes the condition or right of self-government.