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

Recent Examples on the Web In 1985, Rat was recruited by Black Flag to provide full sound on the road, as part of a crew to enable the band to be self-sufficient on tour. Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024 The Ducks are entirely self-sufficient, a notable exception in the highly subsidized Pac-12, where the average amount of university support for athletics was $13.7 million last year. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024 Biden also vowed to continue efforts to deny China advanced technology like computer chips, which has spurred Xi to invest in becoming more self-sufficient. TIME, 18 Apr. 2024 Most of his patients were white, geriatric and still largely self-sufficient — members of the same demographic as the country’s two leading presidential candidates in the 2024 election, 81-year-old Joe Biden and 77-year-old Donald Trump. Eli Saslow Erin Schaff Eli Saslow, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024 Huawei has been hit hard by U.S. restrictions on semiconductor exports to China and is at the vanguard of Chinese efforts to become self-sufficient and a leader in technology. Fatima Hussein, Fortune Asia, 5 Apr. 2024 With so many people leaving the capital, some advocates see a chance for other regions of Haiti to become more self-sufficient and grow their local economies. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024 Sadowski said his goal is to continue to be self-sufficient as an artist, do side commercial gigs and show his art in more galleries. Cathy Kozlowicz, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024 Despite some controversy around the mountain of cash plowed into the club in the last couple of years, there is a growing expectation that the club will become self-sufficient as football operations regulate. Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 3 Apr. 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 27 Apr. 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

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