Autonomous vs. Independent — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 30, 2023
"Autonomous" refers to self-governance or operating without external control, while "Independent" implies freedom from external influence or support.
Difference Between Autonomous and Independent
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Autonomous" primarily emphasizes the capacity for self-governance or self-regulation, often without external interference. An entity that's autonomous doesn't necessarily need to be independent but possesses the capability to make decisions without external guidance. On the other hand, "Independent" suggests freedom from outside control or support, with the emphasis on standing alone and not being influenced or dependent on others.
In the realm of technology, consider "autonomous vehicles." These vehicles operate based on inbuilt algorithms, making decisions without human intervention. However, they might still rely on a parent company for software updates. Conversely, an "independent business" might be one that's not financially or structurally linked to any larger corporation.
Regions or territories also shed light on the distinction. An "autonomous region" might have the freedom to govern its internal affairs but is still part of a larger nation. In contrast, an "independent country" has full sovereignty, not under the political control of another country.
From a personal perspective, an "autonomous individual" might make decisions without seeking approval but may still rely on others in specific areas. Meanwhile, an "independent person" might pride themselves on not relying on others, both emotionally and materially.
In essence, while there's overlap, "Autonomous" leans towards self-regulation or self-governance, often within a larger framework. In contrast, "Independent" speaks to a broader freedom from external influence or dependence.
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Self-governing
Free from external control or support
Emphasis
Self-regulation, often within a framework
Freedom from influence or dependence
Grammatical Role
Adjective describing self-directed action or governance
Adjective describing lack of external ties
Example Usage
"An autonomous robot"
"An independent filmmaker"
Associated Terms
Self-directed, self-regulating
Self-reliant, self-sufficient
Compare with Definitions
Autonomous
Independent in mind or judgment.
He's an autonomous thinker, not influenced by mainstream opinions.
Independent
Not depending on another for livelihood or subsistence.
He's financially independent at a young age.
Autonomous
Not subject to external control or domination.
The university is an autonomous institution.
Independent
Not determined by or capable of being deduced.
Independent events in probability aren't influenced by other events.
Autonomous
Self-governing with respect to internal affairs.
The region became autonomous after the treaty.
Independent
Free from external authority or control.
The nation fought for independent status.
Autonomous
Operating independently of other systems.
The autonomous module performed its function flawlessly.
Independent
Not governed by a foreign power; self-governing.
Autonomous
Not controlled by others or by outside forces; independent
An autonomous judiciary.
An autonomous division of a corporate conglomerate.
Independent
Free from the influence, guidance, or control of another or others; self-reliant
An independent mind.
Autonomous
Independent in mind or judgment; self-directed.
Independent
Not determined or influenced by someone or something else; not contingent
A decision independent of the outcome of the study.
Autonomous
Independent of the laws of another state or government; self-governing.
Independent
Often Independent Affiliated with or loyal to no one political party or organization.
Autonomous
Of or relating to a self-governing entity
An autonomous legislature.
Independent
Not dependent on or affiliated with a larger or controlling entity
An independent food store.
An independent film.
Autonomous
Self-governing with respect to local or internal affairs
An autonomous region of a country.
Independent
Not relying on others for support, care, or funds; self-supporting.
Autonomous
Autonomic.
Independent
Providing or being sufficient income to enable one to live without working
A person of independent means.
Autonomous
Self-governing. Intelligent, sentient, self-aware, thinking, feeling, governing independently.
Independent
Not dependent on other variables.
Autonomous
Acting on one's own or independently; of a child, acting without being governed by parental or guardian rules.
Independent
Of or relating to a system of equations no one of which can be derived from another equation in the system.
Autonomous
Used with no subject, indicating an unknown or unspecified agent; used in similar situations as the passive in English (the difference being that the theme in the English passive construction is the subject, while in the Celtic autonomous construction the theme is the object and there is no subject).
Independent
Independent Of or relating to the 17th-century English Independents.
Autonomous
Independent in government; having the right or power of self-government.
Independent
Often Independent One that is independent, especially a voter, officeholder, or political candidate who is not committed to a political party.
Autonomous
Having independent existence or laws.
Independent
Independent A member of a movement in England in the 17th century advocating the political and religious independence of individual congregations.
Autonomous
Of political bodies;
An autonomous judiciary
A sovereign state
Independent
Independent Chiefly British A Congregationalist.
Autonomous
Existing as an independent entity;
The partitioning of India created two separate and autonomous jute economies
Independent
Not dependent; not contingent or depending on something else; free.
Autonomous
Of persons; free from external control and constraint in e.g. action and judgment
Independent
(politics) Not affiliated with any political party.
The independent candidate
Autonomous
Acting or capable of acting independently in one's activities.
The autonomous drone navigated the forest.
Independent
Providing a comfortable livelihood.
An independent property
Independent
Not subject to bias or influence; self-directing.
A man of an independent mind
Independent
Separate from; exclusive; irrespective.
Independent
A candidate or voter not affiliated with any political party, a freethinker, free of a party platform.
Independent
A neutral or uncommitted person.
Independent
(sports) A team not affiliated with any league or conference.
Independent
Not dependent; free; not subject to control by others; not relying on others; not subordinate; as, few men are wholly independent.
A dry, but independent crust.
Independent
Affording a comfortable livelihood; as, an independent property.
Independent
Not subject to bias or influence; not obsequious; self-directing; as, a man of an independent mind.
Independent
Expressing or indicating the feeling of independence; free; easy; bold; unconstrained; as, an independent air or manner.
Independent
Separate from; exclusive; irrespective.
That obligation in general, under which we conceive ourselves bound to obey a law, independent of those resources which the law provides for its own enforcement.
Independent
Belonging or pertaining to, or holding to the doctrines or methods of, the Independents.
Independent
Not dependent upon another quantity in respect to value or rate of variation; - said of quantities or functions.
Independent
Not bound by party; exercising a free choice in voting with either or any party.
Independent
One who believes that an organized Christian church is complete in itself, competent to self-government, and independent of all ecclesiastical authority.
Independent
One who does not acknowledge an obligation to support a party's candidate under all circumstances; one who exercises liberty in voting.
Independent
A neutral or uncommitted person (especially in politics)
Independent
A writer or artist who sells services to different employers without a long-term contract with any of them
Independent
Free from external control and constraint;
An independent mind
A series of independent judgments
Fiercely independent individualism
An independent republic
Independent
Not dependent on or conditioned by or relative to anything else
Independent
Of political bodies;
An autonomous judiciary
A sovereign state
Independent
Not contingent
Independent
Of a clause; able to stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence;
The main (or independent) clause in a complex sentence has at least a subject and a verb
Independent
Not controlled by a party or interest group
Independent
Not influenced or controlled by others.
She's an independent thinker.
Independent
Not affiliated with any larger controlling entity.
An independent bookstore operates without corporate ties.
Common Curiosities
Can an independent business be part of a franchise?
Generally, an independent business stands alone, while a franchise has ties to a larger corporate entity.
How is an autonomous student different from an independent learner?
An autonomous student can self-direct within given frameworks, while an independent learner may seek knowledge without relying on any system.
Can a country be both autonomous and independent?
Yes, a country can have self-governance (autonomous) and also be free from external control (independent).
Are autonomous vehicles entirely free of human control?
While autonomous vehicles operate without constant human input, they might need human intervention in specific scenarios.
Can a city be autonomous within an independent nation?
Yes, cities can have autonomous powers within the framework of an independent country.
Is every independent country sovereign?
Yes, an independent country typically has full sovereignty, recognized by other nations.
What's the difference between independent and freelance?
Both imply freedom from permanent ties, but independent is broader, while freelance often pertains to work without long-term commitment.
Can something be autonomous but not independent?
Yes, an entity can govern itself (autonomous) yet still be part of a larger system, not entirely independent.
Is independent film free from all external influences?
An independent film is primarily free from major studios, but it might still be influenced by sponsors or investors.
Can an organization be autonomous in decision-making but still get external funding?
Yes, autonomous decision-making doesn't preclude external funding or support.
Are all autonomous entities devoid of external influence?
No, autonomous entities often operate within larger systems, so they might have some external influences.
Does autonomous imply complete freedom?
Not always. Autonomous emphasizes self-regulation, often within a broader system.
How is autonomous different from automated?
Autonomous emphasizes self-governance, while automated refers to something operated by machines, often without human intervention.
Is independence always beneficial?
Independence offers freedom, but it also comes with responsibilities and might not always be the best choice depending on context.
Is independent always an adjective?
Mostly, but independent can also be a noun, as in "She's a proud independent."
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
