autarchy

[aw-tahr-kee]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR autarchy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural au·tar·chies.

absolute sovereignty.

an autocratic government.

autarky.

Origin of autarchy

First recorded in 1655–65, autarchy is from the Greek word autarchía self-rule. See aut-, -archy

Related formsau·tar·chic, au·tar·chi·cal, adjectiveau·tar·chi·cal·ly, adverbau·tar·chist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for autarchic

absolutistic, authoritarian, autocratic, despotic, dictatorial, monocratic, totalitarian, tyrannical, tyrannous, monarchical

Examples from the Web for autarchic

Historical Examples of autarchic

At a very small scale of existence, such as autarchic existence, the means were very simple, and very few.
The Civilization of Illiteracy
Mihai Nadin

British Dictionary definitions for autarchic

autarchy

noun plural -chies

unlimited rule; autocracy

self-government; self-rule

Derived Formsautarchic or autarchical, adjective

Word Origin for autarchy

C17: from Greek autarkhia, from autarkhos autocratic; see auto-, -archy

autarchy

noun plural -chies

a variant spelling (now rare) of autarky

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for autarchic

autarchy

1660s, "absolute sovereignty," from Greek autarkhia, from autarkhein "to be an absolute ruler," from autos "self" (see auto-) + arkhein "to rule" (see archon).