autarky

or au·tar·chy

[ aw-tahr-kee ]

noun,plural au·tar·kies.
  1. the condition of self-sufficiency, especially economic, as applied to a nation.

  2. a national policy of economic independence.

Origin of autarky

1
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

Other words from autarky

  • au·tar·kic, au·tar·ki·cal, adjective
  • au·tar·ki·cal·ly, adverb
  • au·tar·kist, noun

Words Nearby autarky

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for autarky

autarky

/ (ˈɔːtɑːkɪ) /


nounplural -kies
  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

Origin of autarky

1
C17: from Greek autarkeia, from autarkēs self-sufficient, from auto- + arkein to suffice

Derived forms of autarky

  • autarkic, adjective
  • autarkist, noun

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