autarky

Or au·tar·chy

[aw-tahr-kee]

noun

plural

autarkies 

1. the condition of self-sufficiency, especially economic, as applied to a nation.

2. a national policy of economic independence.

autarky

/ ˈɔːtɑːkɪ /

noun

1. (esp of a political unit) a system or policy of economic self-sufficiency aimed at removing the need for imports

2. an economically self-sufficient country

Other Word Forms

• autarkic adjective
• autarkical adjective
• autarkically adverb
• autarkist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of autarky¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Greek autárkeia, “self-sufficiency,” equivalent to aut- aut- + arke-, stem of arkeîn “to be strong enough, suffice” + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of autarky¹

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

Example Sentences

But now, with Trump turning American economic power against friend and foe alike, we risk sliding into something closer to autarky, a world where the U.S. stands alone, detached from any coherent bloc.

Read more on Salon

"Strategic autonomy doesn't mean autarky," Macron said after the speech at the embassy.

Read more on Reuters

But what about the case for autarky in things beyond food and energy?

Read more on BBC

“Russia, while our Western friends literally dream of this, will never take the path of isolation and autarky,” Mr. Putin said.

Read more on New York Times

But this kind of autarky has a price -- deepening isolation from the world economy, markets and investment, he noted.

Read more on Reuters