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
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.
Frost is, by reputation, perhaps the foremost poet of rural, non-coastal New England — of birches and apple trees, of forests blanketed in snow, of pastures sliced by ragged stone walls, and of the flinty, self-sufficient kind of temperament that flourishes in those places. A.o. Scott, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025 But the Civic Center Authority was facing a multi-million-dollar gap in its 2026 budget, and under the former Irvin administration, the city was considering filling that gap as part of a larger plan to make the organization financially self-sufficient again, according to past reporting. R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025 The less-than-welcoming sentiment reflects Beijing’s drive to build a self-sufficient semiconductor supply chain – and its confidence in the progress its rapidly advancing chip industry has made. John Liu, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2025 Pack warm layers, waterproof gear, sturdy boots, and enough supplies to be self-sufficient, as cell coverage and fuel stations are rare in this remote wilderness. David Nikel, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-sufficient

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

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Cite this Entry

“Self-sufficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-sufficient. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

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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