self-sufficient

American  

[self-suh-fish-uhnt, self-] / ˈsɛlf səˈfɪʃ ənt, ˌsɛlf- /

Also self-sufficing

adjective

1. able to supply one's own or its own needs without external assistance.

   The nation grows enough grain to be self-sufficient.

2. having extreme confidence in one's own resources, powers, etc..

   He was self-sufficient, and always reminded you of it.

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self-sufficient British  

adjective

1. able to provide for or support oneself without the help of others

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Other Word Forms

• self-sufficiency noun
• self-sufficiently adverb
• unself-sufficiency noun
• unself-sufficient adjective
• unself-sufficiently adverb

Etymology

Origin of self-sufficient

First recorded in 1580–90

Example Sentences

It's because the kind of women being called out for being "too picky" — middle class, self-sufficient, young, educated — are the same women lining up to buy her records or selling out her concerts.

From Salon

In the late 1960s and 1970s, the agriculturalist was instrumental in bringing industrial farming to India, making the country self-sufficient in food and reducing widespread hunger.

From Seattle Times

Aleinik said Belarus’ union with Moscow covering almost all areas and is building technological cooperation with Moscow to counter Western sanctions and make the country self-sufficient in producing products previously imported from Western nations.

From Seattle Times

Wilson, one of his close friends, said, “he was private, and he liked to keep it that way. He was prideful. He wanted to be self-sufficient and independent and stubborn to a fault that way.”

From Seattle Times

“This time we decided to organize rescuers in self-sufficient teams that would move through longer parts of the cave, from one camp to another,” explained Novosel.

From National Geographic

Related Words

• competent
• confident
• efficient
• self-supporting
• self-sustaining