1. subject to external laws, rules, or authority rather than being self-governing
Usage: philosophy; formal
2. having different laws or modes of growth in different parts
Usage: biology; technical

Examples

• The colony remained heteronomous, governed by laws imposed from the distant capital.
• Kant argued that moral actions should be autonomous rather than heteronomous.
• The heteronomous nature of the organization meant decisions were made by external authorities.
• In biology, heteronomous segmentation refers to body segments that differ in structure and function.
• The heteronomous growth pattern resulted in asymmetrical development.
• Students in the heteronomous educational system had little control over their curriculum.