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

This increased focus on Hong Kong comes as the Chinese government in Beijing is aiming for the country to achieve more "technology self-reliance".

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

As the 15th Five-Year Plan has laid out, the key focuses are on improving industrial modernization, improving technological self-reliance, and ramping up domestic demand.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

"Our ancestors even wore it into battle. It represents Indigenous technology and self-reliance."

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

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

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2026

I had my own home, humble though it was, and I was developing the confidence and self-reliance necessary to stand on my own two feet.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

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