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-containedly adverb
• self-containedness noun

Etymology

Origin of self-contained

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

A detached four-car garage, accessed via a sweeping motorcourt, completes the property’s self-contained layout.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 5, 2026

Nintendo games, by contrast, tend to be self-contained.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

By firmly defining these perceptual features, the researchers supply a crucial missing component that helps fulfill Schrödinger's original goal of creating a self-contained model.

From Science Daily • Feb. 23, 2026

“They were sitting on the floor, folding fliers for their mail-outs to their fans, to let them know what they’re up to, and they were all self-contained and incredibly ambitious.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2025

While each episode is a self-contained narrative designed to illuminate one propitious moment with as much storytelling skill as I can muster, taken together they feature several common themes.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

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