from the Greek for self (auto) and law (nomos); self-governing; having the capacity and ability to make ones own decisions; contested definition [Although it is perhaps not the meaning of the term itself that is consested, but the meaning-in-practice.  For example, can a person's decision ever be completely free from coercion since we are biological and social creatures?]

Other definitions

Wikipedia: autonomy, disambiguation page [Although in this case, the main entry does a good job of disabmiguating, or drawing attention to the various meanings and uses in different disciplines and areas of interest.]

Oxford English dictionary [online]:

1.a Of a state, institution, etc.: The right of self-government, of making its own laws and administering its own affairs.
.b Liberty to follow one's will, personal freedom
2 Biol. Autonomous condition: a The condition of being controlled only by its own laws, and not subject to any higher one. b Organic independence.

1871 H. Macmillan True Vine 79 Each branch is a little plant in itself..having its own autonomy, feeding, growing, and propagating as an individual. [from Oxford English Dictionary, online]

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: personal autonomy; autonomy, moral 

biological autonomy

The biological notion of autonomy is different from older political or moral notions in that instead of looking at autonomy as a quality of action (an autonomous city or agent is self-determining and in control of its own actions or its own life, whereas an heteronomous one is in control of another), it considers the processes able to originate this capacity or its conditions of possibility, together with their characteristic actions. Thus, autopoiesis accounts for the identity of the individual who can be autonomous. The actions of an autopoietic individual are characterized in terms of structural couplings with the environment (and later as enaction [60]), that is to say, changes in the plastic structure of the unit that are not instructed by inputs from the environment, but are autonomously produced (Etxeberria 2004).

from trolling the net:

there are, of course, the ubiquitous software/software creators: "enabling the automated personalization and categoization of text sources" and "intellecutal capital management software". 

then there are a range of connections with intersts and groups of an anarchic nature:

• autonomy and solidarity network
• autonomy tv
• institute for applied autonomy (and contestational robots and
• critical art ensemble
  ""The term “tactical media” refers to a critical usage and theorization of media practices that draw on all forms of old and new, both lucid and sophisticated media, for achieving a variety of specific noncommercial goals and pushing all kinds of potentially subversive political issues."
  These moments of solidarity via linguistic recuperation are usually accompanied by mixed feelings, and this particular case was no different. On the one hand, there was a feeling of caution and perhapsregret. Once named and defined, any movement is open to co-optation. Should tactical media become popularized, its recuperation by capital is almost inevitable. Definitions also create boundaries. What was once so liquid would become increasingly structured and separated as the movement was theorized and historicized.
  On the other hand, joy can emerge out of separationthat expresses itself as generative difference" (Digital Resistance, CAE).
• and others);

then there are a range of connections with interests and groups of a more academic nature:

• globalization and autonomy (dissemination of sshrc-funded research, including a glossary) "For individuals, autonomy refers to their capacity to be able to make informed choices about what should be done and how to go about it. Having this capacity depends on people being healthy, having their basic physical needs satisfied, being aware of their culture, and having certain liberties or freedoms to act. More broadly, autonomy for communities means having the capacity to make the most important rules that shape how they live their lives" (from the guide/introdction to Globalization and Autonomy).