self-contained

American  

[self-kuhn-teynd, self-] / ˈsɛlf kənˈteɪnd, ˌsɛlf- /

adjective

1. containing in oneself or itself all that is necessary; independent.

2. reserved or uncommunicative.

3. self-controlled or self-possessed.

4. (of a machine or mechanism) complete in itself.

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self-contained British  

adjective

1. containing within itself all parts necessary for completeness

2. (of a flat) having its own kitchen, bathroom, and lavatory not shared by others and usually having its own entrance

3. able or tending to keep one's feelings, thoughts, etc, to oneself; reserved

4. able to control one's feelings or emotions in the presence of others

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Other Word Forms

• self-containedness
  noun
• self-containedly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of self-contained

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

"In the long run, self-contained people may not be able to survive in this competitive world," he said.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

“The Devil Wears Prada” was and is the perfect example of a self-contained story, built by the studio machine but never intended to keep the apparatus running.

From Salon • May 1, 2026

Her vision is precise: a south-facing garden to catch the evening light, and a self-contained annex where her father might stay comfortably when visiting, or even live in later years.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 25, 2026

The Metropolitan State Hospital opened in Norwalk in 1916, a self-contained facility complete with its own farm that treated people with mental illness.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

I had to go alone and I had to be self-contained, a kind of casual turtle carrying his house on his back.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• autonomous
• self-governing
• self-sufficient
• self-supporting