definitions

autarchy

[ aw-tahr-kee ]
/ ˈɔ tɑr ki /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR autarchy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural au·tar·chies.

absolute sovereignty.
an autocratic government.
autarky.

RELATED WORDS

tyranny, dictatorship, monocracy, autocracy, despotism, totalitarianism

Nearby words

aut, aut caesar, aut nihil, aut-, autacoid, autarch, autarchy, autarky, autecic, autecious, autecism, autecology

Origin of autarchy

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

Related forms

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

Definition for autarchy (2 of 2)

autarky

or au·tar·chy

[ aw-tahr-kee ]
/ ˈɔ tɑr ki /

noun, plural au·tar·kies.

the condition of self-sufficiency, especially economic, as applied to a nation.
a national policy of economic independence.

Origin of autarky

1610–20; < Greek autárkeia, equivalent to aut- aut- + arke- suffice + -ia -ia

Related forms

au·tar·kic, au·tar·ki·cal, adjectiveau·tar·ki·cal·ly, adverbau·tar·kist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for autarchy

British Dictionary definitions for autarchy (1 of 3)

autarchy

1
/ (ˈɔːtɑːkɪ) /

noun plural -chies

unlimited rule; autocracy
self-government; self-rule

Derived Forms

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 3)

autarchy

2
/ (ˈɔːtɑːkɪ) /

noun plural -chies

a variant spelling (now rare) of autarky

British Dictionary definitions for autarchy (3 of 3)

autarky

/ (ˈɔːtɑːkɪ) /

noun plural -kies

(esp of a political unit) a system or policy of economic self-sufficiency aimed at removing the need for imports
an economically self-sufficient country

Derived Forms

autarkic, adjectiveautarkist, noun

Word Origin for autarky

C17: from Greek autarkeia, from autarkēs self-sufficient, from auto- + arkein to suffice
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