self-reliance

[self-ri-lahy-uhns, self-]

noun

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

self-reliance

noun

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

“Self-Reliance”

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.”

Other Word Forms

• self-reliant adjective
• self-reliantly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-reliance¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

However, Beijing has been pushing its companies to not buy them and instead use domestic alternatives as it tries to reduce its self-reliance.

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Whether it is saber-rattling or not, the unveiling of these retaliatory tools reinforces the countries’ desire to build up their self-reliance.

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Beijing’s new five-year plan doubles down on its push for technology self-reliance and advanced manufacturing, but its newly outlined policy priorities could further fuel its tensions with the U.S.

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Until then, involution is the price to pay for Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s goal of industrial self-reliance and global leadership in advanced technologies.

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The move, widely discussed on Chinese social media, underscores Beijing’s ongoing push for tech self-reliance amid intensifying U.S.-China tech rivalry.

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Related Words

• autonomy 
• self-determination 
• self-government 
• self-rule 
• self-sufficiency www.thesaurus.com
• sovereignty