autarchy

1 of 2

noun (1)

au·​tar·​chy ˈȯ-ˌtär-kē How to pronounce autarchy (audio)

autarchy

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural autarchies
: absolute sovereignty : autocracy
autarch noun

Examples of autarchy in a Sentence

Noun (2) having just thrown off the yoke of Great Britain, the American Founding Fathers were adamantly opposed to establishing some form of homegrown autarchy
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
But that’s the point: These people don’t live in an autarchy. David Marchesephotograph By Christopher Anderson/magnum, For The New York Times, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2022 But Russia’s economy is far too small to be an autarchy. Robert Zubrin, National Review, 10 May 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

by confusion with -archy

Noun (2)

borrowed from New Latin autarchia, from Greek aútarkhos "absolute ruler" (from aut- aut- + -arkhos -arch entry 1) + -ia -y entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1617, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1665, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of autarchy was in 1617

Dictionary Entries Near autarchy

Cite this Entry

“Autarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autarchy. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

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