Definition

Adjective: 1. Able to provide for one's own needs without help from others: Describing a person, group, or system that is independent and does not require external support or resources to function or survive. 2. Confident in one's own abilities; self-reliant: Describing a person who is independent and does not rely on others for emotional or psychological support. (Note: This meaning is less common and can overlap with "self-reliant.")

Usage and Examples

• Describing a person or household:
  • After years of farming, they became completely self-sufficient, growing all their own food.
  • She is a very self-sufficient individual who prefers to solve problems on her own.
• Describing a system, community, or country:
  • The goal of the eco-village is to be a self-sufficient community, producing its own energy and food.
  • A nation striving for self-sufficiency in energy production.

Advanced Usage

• "To be self-sufficient in something": This phrase specifies the area of independence.
  • The country aims to be self-sufficient in grain production within five years.
• "Self-sufficient unit": Often used in economic or technical contexts.
  • The spacecraft was designed as a self-sufficient unit for the long-duration mission.

Variants and Related Words

• Self-sufficiency (noun): The quality or state of being self-sufficient.
  • Economic self-sufficiency is a primary goal for the developing region.
• Self-sufficing (adjective): A less common variant with the same meaning as "self-sufficient."
  • He lived a self-sufficing life in the remote cabin.
• Self-reliant (adjective): Similar to "self-sufficient," but often emphasizes confidence and independence in judgment and action, not just material needs.
• Self-supporting (adjective): Often used to describe someone who earns enough money to support themselves financially.

Synonyms

• Independent
• Self-reliant
• Self-supporting
• Autonomous

Antonyms

• Dependent
• Reliant
• Needy

Idioms and Common Phrases

• To stand on one's own (two) feet: An idiom meaning to be independent and self-sufficient.
  • By the age of 25, he was standing on his own two feet and no longer needed financial help from his parents.

Adjective

1. able to provide for your own needs without help from others
   • a self-sufficing economic unit