self-propelled

American  

[self-pruh-peld, self-] / ˈsɛlf prəˈpɛld, ˌsɛlf- /

Sometimes self-propelling

adjective

1. propelled by itself.

2. (of a vehicle) propelled by its own engine, motor, or the like, rather than drawn or pushed by a horse, locomotive, etc.

3. (of a gun or a rocket launcher) having a vehicle as a base.

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self-propelled British  

adjective

1. (of a vehicle) provided with its own source of tractive power rather than requiring an external means of propulsion

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Other Word Forms

• self-propelling
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of self-propelled

First recorded in 1895–1900

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

self-propelled

It said this would include Project Brakestop, a government programme to develop low-cost cruise missiles - self-propelled guided weapons which fly like normal aircraft for much of their flight.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

According to the researchers, these spinning crystals represent the first known example of a self-propelled metallic nanoparticle in biology.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 19, 2026

In 2023, Qatar sold around a dozen self-propelled antiaircraft guns called Gepards back to Germany, where they were made.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 15, 2026

During the day, Zelenskyy was due to visit the Nexter arms manufacturer in Versailles, which makes the Caesar self-propelled howitzers that are among the weapons provided by France to Kyiv’s forces.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 7, 2024

The self-propelled rockets have not been altered in essential features since the remote centuries when the Chinese first used them in celebrations.

From Artificial Light Its Influence upon Civilization by Matthew Luckiesh

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