self-sufficient

American  

[self-suh-fish-uhnt, self-] / ˈsɛlf səˈfɪʃ ənt, ˌsɛlf- /

Also self-sufficing

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.

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self-sufficient British  

adjective

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

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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

Administration officials say the long-term vision is to make industries self-sufficient.

From The Wall Street Journal

The aim is for the school's pantry to then become self-sufficient, with the nominal fee for food covering the cost of buying it from distributors.

From BBC

Aristotle insisted that material possession should properly be limited to the amount required to participate in a self-sufficient community.

From The Wall Street Journal

It would make the community more self-sufficient and better prepared to respond to the Tyler Oliveiras of the world.

From The Wall Street Journal

It shouldn’t be a surprise that living more closely with the land, in a self-sufficient community, is the right way to survive.

From Literature

Related Words

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