self-sustaining
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of self-sustaining
First recorded in 1835–45
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A reintroduction project was started in Scotland in 1975 and the birds have now become established as a self-sustaining population.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
For years, many researchers believed that the brain's specialized immune cells, known as microglia, were established at birth and remained a self-sustaining population throughout life.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026
“Michael” might be a self-evident, self-sustaining, self-indulgent piece of PR.
From Salon ● Apr. 25, 2026
The FirstNet Authority is required by law to be self-sustaining.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 1, 2026
It would have lacked the energy to sustain itself under normal conditions, however, the fission bomb provides it with all the energy it requires to grow and become self-sustaining.
From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
