self-made

American  

[self-meyd] / ˈsɛlfˈmeɪd /

adjective

1. having succeeded in life unaided.

   He is a self-made man.

2. made by oneself.

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self-made British  

adjective

1. having achieved wealth, status, etc, by one's own efforts

2. made by oneself

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Etymology

Origin of self-made

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

Whether it's self-made or forced upon you, the decision about which football team to support is usually taken before you learn to ride a bike or even tie your shoelaces.

From BBC

Insecurity among the self-made is often nuclear-powered from deep within a fragile psyche.

From The Wall Street Journal

Sean O'Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of the country's biggest unions, verbally attacked Mullin at a 2023 hearing, calling him a "greedy CEO who pretends like he's self-made".

From BBC

The self-made comedy renaissance man used sketch comedy as a vehicle to find success on BET, social media, books and touring.

From Los Angeles Times

There has been a striking jump in the number of women who are self-made, meaning they got at least some of their wealth from a significant enterprise they launched on their own.

From The Wall Street Journal