self-sustaining
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
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.
He said the blaze was "self-sustaining" and changing direction, with the fire moving east towards Bordeaux on Friday evening.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
The taco stand about 100 yards off had its normal self-sustaining line.
From Slate ● Jun. 3, 2026
“Michael” might be a self-evident, self-sustaining, self-indulgent piece of PR.
From Salon ● Apr. 25, 2026
Fire Administration, potentially leading to a process known as thermal runaway, in which the battery ignites through a self-sustaining chemical reaction that is impossible to stop until it runs out on its own.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 6, 2026
The ultimate goal of any reintroduction program is to create a self-sustaining population in the wild—a species that can survive and breed completely on its own, with no human intervention.
From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
