1. Words that are spelled or pronounced the same but have opposite meanings.
Usage: Plural of autonym. Also called contronyms or Janus words.; Linguistics term.
2. In taxonomy, names of organisms that are identical to the names of their parent taxa.
Usage: Technical term in biology and zoology.

Examples

• The word 'cleave' is one of the most famous autonyms because it can mean both 'to split apart' and 'to stick together.'
• In English, 'sanction' is an autonym: it can mean to approve or to penalize.
• The verb 'dust' is an autonym—you can dust a surface to remove dust, or dust crops to add powder.
• Linguists study autonyms to understand how context shapes word meaning.
• The word 'trim' functions as an autonym when it means both 'to cut' and 'to decorate.'