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Synonyms

self-sustaining

American  
[self-suh-stey-ning, self-] / ˈsɛlf səˈsteɪ nɪŋ, ˌsɛlf- /

adjective

  1. self-supporting.


Other Word Forms

  • self-sustained adjective
  • self-sustainingly adverb
  • self-sustainment noun

Etymology

Origin of self-sustaining

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Navigating the obstacles while upholding the project’s goals such as creating a self-sustaining native habitat over one of the country’s busiest freeways is critical, he said, because the outcome will influence decisions about future crossings.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2026

The country must act fast - building a regulated, self-sustaining recycling system, raising household awareness, and integrating waste collection into solar business models.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2025

‘The beauty of biotech today versus five years ago is we have a number of examples of companies that launched products on their own and became self-sustaining.’

From MarketWatch • Dec. 11, 2025

No one should be under the illusion that a Mars settlement, even with a million people, could be fully independent of Earth and entirely self-sustaining.

From Slate • Dec. 9, 2025

“When they come to rescue us, they will find us with clean, jungle-forward, fashionable huts and a self-sustaining ecosystem. We will be the Miss Teen Dreamers they write about in history books,” Taylor said.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray