au·tar·ky or au·tar·chy (ō'tär'ke) pronunciation n., pl. -kies or -chies. 1. A policy of national self-sufficiency and nonreliance on imports or economic aid. 2. A self-sufficient region or country. [Greek autarkeia, self-sufficiency, from autarkes, self-sufficient : auto-, auto- + arkein, to suffice.]