self-reliance

American  

[self-ri-lahy-uhns, self-] / ˈsɛlf rɪˈlaɪ əns, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

1. reliance on oneself or one's own powers, resources, etc.

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self-reliance British  

noun

1. reliance on one's own abilities, decisions, etc

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“Self-Reliance” Cultural  

1. (1841) An essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson that advises the reader to “Trust thyself” and argues that “whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.” It is the source of several well-known epigrams, such as “To be great is to be misunderstood” and “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”

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Other Word Forms

• self-reliant adjective
• self-reliantly adverb

Etymology

Origin of self-reliance

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

By focusing on magnets instead, one of the most widely used rare-earth products, India aims to achieve self-reliance more quickly.

From BBC

A homegrown tool like that was critical to ensuring Korea’s technological self-reliance in a world already dominated by U.S. and Chinese artificial intelligence.

From The Wall Street Journal

AI, tech self-reliance, improving earnings, Beijing’s policy support and more active Hong Kong listing and fundraising pipelines that keep liquidity and attention high have all boosted domestic stocks, she added.

From The Wall Street Journal

While Beijing is unlikely to unleash stimulus, recent comments from officials suggest the government has grown more serious about prioritizing a revival in domestic demand alongside a continued push for technological self-reliance.

From Barron's

China’s advances in artificial intelligence, its continued push for technological self-reliance and resilience in global trade have helped boost investor confidence, easing concerns over weak domestic demand and persistent deflation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• autonomy
• self-determination
• self-government
• self-rule
• self-sufficiency
• sovereignty