autarchy

[ aw-tahr-kee ]

/ ˈɔ tɑr ki /

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See synonyms for: autarchy / autarchical / autarchic on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural au·tar·chies.

absolute sovereignty.

an autocratic government.

autarky.

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showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

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Origin of autarchy

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

OTHER WORDS FROM autarchy

au·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. 2022

How to use autarchy in a sentence

Of the over 240 distinct territories, countries, and protectorates, very few (if any) are truly autarchic entities.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin
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
It resulted in a new set of dependencies among communities that had afforded autarchic modes of existence for thousands of years.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin

British Dictionary definitions for autarchy (1 of 2)

autarchy¹

/ (ˈɔːtɑːkɪ) /

noun plural -chies

unlimited rule; autocracy

self-government; self-rule

Derived forms of autarchy

autarchic or autarchical, adjective

Word Origin for autarchy

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

British Dictionary definitions for autarchy (2 of 2)

autarchy²