self-sufficient

adjective

self-suf·​fi·​cient ˌself-sə-ˈfi-shənt 

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

Synonyms

• independent
• self-dependent
• self-reliant
• self-subsistent
• self-subsisting
• self-supported
• self-supporting
• self-sustained
• self-sustaining

Examples of self-sufficient in a Sentence

the college student worked nights so that he would be self-sufficient

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump has frequently quipped that the US doesn’t need to import items like lumber, cars and oil, claiming that natural resources and manufacturing potential are plentiful enough domestically for America to be self-sufficient. —Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2025

Create spaces where connections can continue after a patient is self-sufficient and released from care, enabling them to stay connected with a trusted team and/or circle of support. —Sharron Van Der Meulen, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025

This could make the United States completely self-sufficient in lithium and stop importing it through China. —John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Apr. 2025

For example, the United States will not replace Chinese contracts for Russian energy because the country is already self-sufficient. —Michael McFaul, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for self-sufficient

• beneficent
• coefficient
• inefficient
• insufficient
• deficient
• efficient
• omniscient
• proficient
• sufficient

Kids Definition

self-sufficient

adjective

self-suf·​fi·​cient

ˌself-sə-ˈfish-ənt

: able to take care of oneself without outside help : independent