selfsupported

Selfsupported is a term used to describe something that can sustain itself without ongoing external assistance. The word is formed from self and supported; in common usage it signals autonomy, resilience, and independence from external funding, support, or infrastructure.

Usage is informal, and its precise meaning varies by field.

Common domains include finance, engineering, software, ecology, and social initiatives. In finance, a selfsupported entity relies on internal revenue, reserves, or reinvested profits rather than external capital. In engineering, a selfsupported structure can bear loads with its own weight and geometry, without external bracing. In software, a selfsupported program includes all needed dependencies and can run without installation of external runtimes. In ecology, a selfsupported system maintains energy and nutrient cycles through internal processes, though complete isolation is rare. In social contexts, selfsupported initiatives cover costs through member contributions or earned income without ongoing donations.

See also self-sufficiency, autonomous, self-sustaining.