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.
Nearby words
aut caesar, aut nihil, aut-, autacoid, autarch, autarchy, autarky, autecic, autecious, auteciously, autecism, autecology
Related formsau·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
British Dictionary definitions for autarky
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 Formsautarkic, 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
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Word Origin and History for autarky
autarky
1610s, "self-sufficiency," from Greek autarkeia "sufficiency in oneself, independence," from autarkes "self-sufficient, having enough, independent of others" (also used of countries), from autos "self" (see auto-) + arkein "to ward off, keep off," also "to be strong enough, sufficient," from PIE root *ark- "to hold, contain, guard" (see arcane). From a different Greek source than autarchy, and thus the spelling. As a term in international economics, prominent late 1930s. Related: Autarkic.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper