Autarky is a policy or condition of economic self-sufficiency, where a country aims to meet its needs without relying on external assistance or trade. It can also describe personal or organizational independence from outside influence. The term emphasizes self-reliance and closed self-contained systems, often discussed in economic or political theory. It is pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable and a clear, clipped second syllable.
"Economic autarky was pursued during the war, as imports were severely restricted."
"Some small communities strive for energy autarky by generating all their own power."
"Historically, autarky policies limited foreign investment and international exchange."
"In modern debates, autarky is contrasted with globalism and economic integration."
Autarky comes from the Greek auto- meaning 'self' and arkhē meaning 'power, rule, or supremacy' (from arche, arkhein). The term entered English through political and economic discourse in the 19th and 20th centuries, drawing on classical studies of state policy. It evolved to denote a systematic approach to national economy or organization where external trade and exchange are minimized in favor of internal production and self-sufficiency. Early uses framed autarky as a strategic doctrine in the context of imperial ambitions or wartime economies. The concept broadened to describe not just national policy but any self-contained system—households, communes, or firms—that seeks independence from external supply chains. The word has remained prominent in debates on globalization and economic policy, often invoked to discuss resilience and strategic autonomy.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Autarky" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Autarky" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Autarky"
-rky sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce autarky as /ɔˈtɑːrki/ (US) or /ɔːˈtɑːki/ (UK). Start with the open-mid back rounded vowel /ɔ/, then the stressed syllable /ˈtɑː/, followed by /r/ /ki/. The stress is on the second syllable: a-TARK-y. Picture the mouth opening wide for the /ɔ/ and then a firm /t/ followed by a long /ɑː/. Listen for the lightly trilled American /r/ in some speakers. Audio reference: you can compare with Pronounce or Forvo pronunciations of 'autarky'.
Common errors: 1) Dropping the /t/ as in ‘a-archy’ or misplacing the /t/ leading to /ɔˈɑːrki/. Correct by enforcing a distinct /t/ stop, not a flap. 2) Misplacing stress as a-TARK-y; keep the primary stress on the second syllable /tɑː/. 3) Slurring /ɑː/ into /ə/ or /ɪ/ in non-native accents; maintain a full long /ɑː/ before the /r/. Practice with minimal pairs and syllable drills to keep the vowel quality accurate.
US: /ɔˈtɑːrki/ with rhotic /r/ and a clear /ˈtɑː/; vowel often darker. UK: /ɒˈtɑːki/ or /ɔːˈtɑːki/ with less rhoticity, shorter /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ and a crisper /k/. Australian: /ɒˈtɑːki/ with broad /ɒ/ and non-rhotic alignment; vowel quality tends toward /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ depending on speaker. All share stress on second syllable; ensure /t/ is treated as a clean stop, not a dental or softened sound.
The difficulty lies in maintaining a long open-mid vowel /ɔ/ followed by a strong /t/ stop and the pronounced /ɑː/ before the /r/; many learners merge /ɑː/ with a reduced schwa. Also, the /r/ in non-rhotic varieties can be subtle or omitted, which changes perceived pronunciation. Focus on keeping the second syllable stressed and shaping the tongue for a crisp /t/ and clear /r/ without delay.
A practical tip: anchor the word with the mouth position at /t/ by placing the tongue tip behind the upper front teeth momentarily, then pull back into /ɑː/ before rolling into /r/. Visualize a two-beat unit: /ɔ/ and /ˈtɑː/ as the core, then glide into /r/ and /ki/. Recording yourself and comparing to a native-like pronunciation helps you tune the /ɔ/ vs /ɒ/ split and ensure the final /i/ is clean.
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