self-sufficient
Americanadjective
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able to supply one's own or its own needs without external assistance.
The nation grows enough grain to be self-sufficient.
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having extreme confidence in one's own resources, powers, etc..
He was self-sufficient, and always reminded you of it.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- self-sufficiency noun
- self-sufficiently adverb
- unself-sufficiency noun
- unself-sufficient adjective
- unself-sufficiently adverb
Etymology
Origin of self-sufficient
First recorded in 1580–90
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 world that becomes self-sufficient in defence and energy could also be a world that holds less dollar reserves.”
From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026
Having this bridge probably accelerates the rate at which they can become self-sufficient.
From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026
What are the biggest challenges facing Europe as it attempts to build a self-sufficient defense industry?
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2026
But the report warns that the UK is "unable" to be food self-sufficient at present based on current diets and prices – and full self-sufficiency would also require "very substantial price increases" for consumers.
From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026
“LORE uses the term self-sufficient museum. They have several of these. This is an older version of a virtual assistant. She uses a projection processor, as opposed to an integrated processor.”
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
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.
