self-executing

[ self-ek-si-kyoo-ting, self- ]

adjective

1. going into effect immediately without the need of supplementary legislation:

   a self-executing treaty.

self-executing

adjective

1. (of a law, treaty, or clause in a deed or contract, etc) coming into effect automatically at a specified time, no legislation or other action being needed for enforcement

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-executing¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

The soul may be a mechanism, but it is a self-directing and self-executing mechanism.

From Project Gutenberg