self-reliance

noun

self-re·​li·​ance ˌself-ri-ˈlī-ənts How to pronounce self-reliance (audio)
: reliance on one's own efforts and abilities

Examples of self-reliance in a Sentence

some people don't achieve self-reliance until they're over 30 years old
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The very policies and practices that had sustained Black business districts under segregation — captive markets, enforced proximity, and a philosophy of economic self-reliance —were suddenly undermined once Black consumers could freely choose mainstream establishments. Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 6 Sep. 2025 If anything, your self-reliance might be keeping you from the perfect career opportunity. Colleen Batchelder, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025 The incident highlights the challenges of policing and ensuring safety in a temporary city of more than 70,000 people built in the isolation of Nevada's Black Rock Desert, raising questions about how the festival can balance its ethos of self-reliance with the realities of crime and public safety. Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025 And Malcolm always talked about self-reliance, self- determination, and finally that clicked in my mind. Zak Cheney-Rice, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-reliance

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-reliance was in 1668

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-reliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-reliance. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

self-reliance

noun
self-re·​li·​ance
ˌsel-fri-ˈlī-ənts
: trust in one's own efforts and abilities
self-reliant
-ənt
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on self-reliance

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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