autarchy

[ aw-tahr-kee ]

noun

, plural au·tar·chies.

1. absolute sovereignty.
2. an autocratic government.
3. autarky.

autarchy

¹

/ ˈɔːtɑːkɪ /

noun

1. a variant spelling (now rare) of autarky

autarchy

²

/ ˈɔːtɑːkɪ /

noun

1. unlimited rule; autocracy
2. self-government; self-rule

Derived Forms

• auˈtarchic, adjective

Other Words From

• au·tarchic au·tarchi·cal adjective
• au·tarchi·cal·ly adverb
• autar·chist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of autarchy¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of autarchy¹

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

Example Sentences

The end of the Cold War was in many respects a victory for open trade versus autarchy.

From Forbes

Such global economic realities mean America could not achieve autarchy, even if it were in its interest to do so.

From US News

The Fascist states of the present time exhibit a definite drift from free trade to autarchy.

From Project Gutenberg

Wen Yunchao, a Guangzhou-based blogger, on Twitter called the speech "a declaration of war from a free nation to an autarchy," and compared it to Winston Churchill's anti-Soviet speech decrying the Iron Curtain.

From Wall Street Journal

Owing to the almost perfect autarchy existing there, grave economic problems never really arise.

From Project Gutenberg