heteronomy

H4E1T1E1R1O1N1O1M3Y4

noun

The political subjection of a community to the rule of another power or to an external law.

Opposite
autonomy
Scrabble 18
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Meanings

nounheteronomy (usually uncountable, plural heteronomies)

plural heteronomies

  1. uncountableusuallyThe political subjection of a community to the rule of another power or to an external law.
  2. uncountableusuallyThe state of being beholden to external influences.
  3. uncountableusuallybiologyThe condition of being heteronomous.

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
autonomy

Origin

From hetero- + -nomy.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian хетероно́мия, чу́жда власт
  • хетероно́мия (heteronómija)political subjection
  • чу́жда власт (čúžda vlast)political subjection
  • зави́симост (zavísimost)political subjection
  • несамостоя́телност (nesamostojátelnost)political subjection
  • хетероно́мия (heteronómija)biology
Japanese 他治, 他律
  • 他治 (tachi)political subjection
  • 他律 (taritsu)being beholden to external influences
Persian دگرمختاری
  • دگرمختاری (degarmoxtâri)being beholden to external influences

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with heteronomy

economyastronomytaxonomyautonomyDeuteronomyagronomygastronomyaeronomymetonymytaphonomybionomytheonomyanthroponomyarchaeastronomychemotaxonomycontronymycytotaxonomydactylonomydiseconomygeonomyineconomynonautonomysemiautonomysubeconomy
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

heteronomy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heteronomy

MLA

“heteronomy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heteronomy. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “heteronomy,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heteronomy.

Source: heteronomy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.