- containing within itself all parts necessary for completeness
- (of a flat) having its own kitchen, bathroom, and lavatory not shared by others and usually having its own entrance
- able or tending to keep one's feelings, thoughts, etc, to oneself; reserved
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
self-con•tained /ˈsɛlfkənˈteɪnd/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- containing in oneself or itself all that is necessary;
independent:a self-contained spaceship. - not saying much or showing much emotion;
reserved. - self-possessed;
showing self-control.
self-con•tained
(self′kən tānd′, self′-),USA pronunciation adj.
self-con•tain•ed•ly
(self′kən tā′nid lē, self′-),USA pronunciation adv.
self′-con•tain′ed•ness, n.
- containing in oneself or itself all that is necessary; independent.
- reserved or uncommunicative.
- self-controlled or self-possessed.
- (of a machine or mechanism) complete in itself.
- 1585–95
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
self-contained adj
'self-contained' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
black box
- frame
- granny flat
- home unit
- maisonette
- microgrid
- module
- movement
- number
- object
- prelude
- rooming house
- scuba
- system
- turret
- assembly
- automotive
- camcorder
- closed
- cordless
- distich
- entity
- floor furnace
- inertial guidance
- modular
- tactical unit
- self-containment
- shower stall
- stand-alone
- subcommunity
- subcontinent