self-made
Americanadjective
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having succeeded in life unaided.
He is a self-made man.
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made by oneself.
adjective
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having achieved wealth, status, etc, by one's own efforts
-
made by oneself
Etymology
Origin of self-made
First recorded in 1605–15
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.
His wealth represents a sort of aspirational model for many people of that class, even though he inherited his wealth, mostly thank to the reality show that portrayed him as a hugely successful self-made businessman.
From Salon • Jun. 16, 2026
He was “not a self-made man,” she added, but “one of those snake-oil salesmen,” concluding, “I don’t enjoy him.”
From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026
He’s a self-made man, but he credited Hong Kong for giving him the opportunity.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
The self-made spirit is particularly evident among women and minorities, who, throughout the 20th century, were blocked from success through mainstream channels.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026
Was that what a self-made man would have done?
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
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.
