self-propelled

American  

[self-pruh-peld, self-] / ˈsɛlf prəˈpɛld, ˌsɛlf- /

Sometimes self-propelling

adjective

1. propelled by itself.

2. (of a vehicle) propelled by its own engine, motor, or the like, rather than drawn or pushed by a horse, locomotive, etc.

3. (of a gun or a rocket launcher) having a vehicle as a base.

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self-propelled British  

adjective

1. (of a vehicle) provided with its own source of tractive power rather than requiring an external means of propulsion

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Other Word Forms

• self-propelling
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-propelled

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

self-propelled

It said this would include Project Brakestop, a government programme to develop low-cost cruise missiles - self-propelled guided weapons which fly like normal aircraft for much of their flight.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

Earlier this week, Kim visited a munitions factory producing 155mm self-propelled howitzers that are set to be deployed to the southern border with South Korea later this year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

According to the researchers, these spinning crystals represent the first known example of a self-propelled metallic nanoparticle in biology.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 19, 2026

To the layman, a self-propelled howitzer looks like a tank, but it has a bigger, 155mm gun to fire at longer range.

From Salon ● May 19, 2024

In 1969 the agricultural mechanization enterprises controlled 70 percent of the available farm tractor power and an even larger share of the tractor-drawn and self-propelled farm machinery.

From Area Handbook for Romania by Donald W. Bernier