An autonym is a term used to describe a name that a group or individual uses to refer to themselves. This self-designation often reflects cultural identity and can differ from external labels assigned by others. For example, the Cherokee people refer to themselves as "Aniyvwiya," which means "the principal people." In linguistics, an autonym can also refer to a word that denotes itself. For instance, the word "noun" is an autonym because it is a noun that describes the category of words known as nouns. Autonyms help clarify identity and meaning within various contexts.