self-sufficient

[ self-suh-fish-uhnt, self- ]

adjective

1. able to supply one's own or its own needs without external assistance:

   The nation grows enough grain to be self-sufficient.

2. having extreme confidence in one's own resources, powers, etc.:

   He was self-sufficient, and always reminded you of it.

self-sufficient

adjective

1. able to provide for or support oneself without the help of others

Derived Forms

• ˌself-sufˈficiently, adverb
• ˌself-sufˈficiency, noun

Other Words From

• self-suf·ficien·cy noun
• self-suf·ficient·ly adverb
• unself-suf·ficien·cy noun
• unself-suf·ficient adjective
• unself-suf·ficient·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-sufficient¹

First recorded in 1580–90

Example Sentences

Following troop drawdown, our goal is to create a self-sufficient Afghanistan, and one that views women as a vital contributors.

From The Daily Beast

And Counihan said the system was designed to be as simple and self-sufficient as possible.

From The Daily Beast

Sheriff Wheeler described the compound as a self-sufficient community with its own food supply.

From The Daily Beast

It has also undermined their ability to become self-sufficient in the hopes of someday supporting a family.

From The Daily Beast

With its surge in shale gas production the US has become self-sufficient in natural gas.

From The Daily Beast

If it were only unity, it would be self-sufficient, and would have no further need of receiving anything.

From Project Gutenberg

A structure as huge and complex as this had to be self-sufficient.

From Project Gutenberg

Men are so self-sufficient, that they always think they may pick and choose.

From Project Gutenberg

They perceived that he was self-sufficient, without need of anything, and hence without any motives for doing wrong.

From Project Gutenberg

That he had made a fool of himself probably never entered his confident and self-sufficient little head.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• competent
• confident
• efficient
• self-supporting
• self-sustaining