self-sufficient

adjective

self-suf·​fi·​cient ˌself-sə-ˈfi-shənt How to pronounce self-sufficient (audio)
1
: able to maintain oneself or itself without outside aid : capable of providing for one's own needs
a self-sufficient farm
2
: having an extreme confidence in one's own ability or worth : haughty, overbearing

Examples of self-sufficient in a Sentence

the college student worked nights so that he would be self-sufficient
Recent Examples on the Web My biggest goal in life is to help feed people and help people thrive and learn to be more self-sufficient. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2024 Easygoing, matter-of-fact, self-sufficient, Kermit is the calm green eye in the hurricane of Miss Piggy's emotions. Brad Darrach, Peoplemag, 31 May 2024 Ayesha added that this pregnancy would differ since her three eldest children are self-sufficient. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 29 May 2024 France, which has its own nuclear arsenal, has pushed the hardest for Europe to invest in a stronger and more self-sufficient military. Liz Alderman, New York Times, 20 May 2024 The pandemic seems to have triggered the spike, as folks strove to be self-sufficient by producing their own eggs. Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun, 15 May 2024 This is fine with us, as my son is an experienced traveler and is a quiet, self-sufficient and polite passenger. Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 13 May 2024 Just a few miles north of Kansas City, Smithville was tidy, self-sufficient, but not appreciably different from hundreds of small towns across the country. Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2024 Manchin has been a vocal advocate of the U.S. distancing itself from Chinese industrial inputs and becoming self-sufficient in the auto industry. Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 6 May 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-sufficient.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-sufficient was in 1596

Dictionary Entries Near self-sufficient

Cite this Entry

“Self-sufficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-sufficient. Accessed 14 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

self-sufficient

adjective
self-suf·​fi·​cient
ˌself-sə-ˈfish-ənt
: able to take care of oneself without outside help : independent

More from Merriam-Webster on self-sufficient

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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