self-sufficient
"self-sufficient" is a 14-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“self-sufficient” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an adjective - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 15
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Able to provide for oneself independently of others; not needing external support.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | self-sufficient |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Adjective |
| Letters | 15 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “self-sufficient” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for self-sufficient is 15 letters long, classified as an adjective. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
No generated misspelling entries exist for self-sufficient in our index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: From self- + sufficient, a calque of Ancient Greek αὐτάρκης (autárkēs). The correct English form is self-sufficient, spelled S-E-L-F---S-U-F-F-I-C-I-E-N-T.
Definition
- 1Able to provide for oneself independently of others; not needing external support.
- 2Overconfident in one's own abilities; arrogant.
Etymology
From self- + sufficient, a calque of Ancient Greek αὐτάρκης (autárkēs).
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “self-sufficient”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is S-E-L-F---S-U-F-F-I-C-I-E-N-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.