self-dependence

noun

self-de·​pen·​dence ˌself-di-ˈpen-dən(t)s How to pronounce self-dependence (audio)
: dependence on one's own resources or efforts : self-reliance
" … If you won't help me, I'll manage without help." "Do; there is nothing like self-reliance, self-dependence."Charlotte Brontë
In 1861 he encouraged the self-dependence of the working class by establishing the Post Office Savings Bank …J. R. Edwards

Examples of self-dependence in a Sentence

encouraged her children to develop self-dependence at a relatively early age a level of self-dependence rarely seen in teens
Recent Examples on the Web As Locke put it in his essay, this was a period of renewal, of self-respect, and of self-dependence among Black people. Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-dependence.' 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

circa 1620, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-dependence was circa 1620

Dictionary Entries Near self-dependence

Cite this Entry

“Self-dependence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-dependence. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.

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