self-propelled

[ self-pruh-peld, self- ]

adjective

1. propelled by itself.
2. (of a vehicle) propelled by its own engine, motor, or the like, rather than drawn or pushed by a horse, locomotive, etc.
3. (of a gun or a rocket launcher) having a vehicle as a base.

self-propelled

adjective

1. (of a vehicle) provided with its own source of tractive power rather than requiring an external means of propulsion

Derived Forms

• ˌself-proˈpelling, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-propelled¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

My childhood to D-list modeling career was nothing short of a self-propelled She's All That, and it was not glamorous.

From The Daily Beast

Armoured Car, a self-propelled car completely protected by bullet-proof armour-plating.

From Project Gutenberg

Internal friction is of significance in all self-propelled vehicles and especially so at high speeds.

From Project Gutenberg

Repetition is confirmation, and history is made up of just such self-propelled lies—fact founded on fiction.

From Project Gutenberg

My sweet little ever-victorious, self-propelled monkey wrench!

From Project Gutenberg

Self-propelled caterpillar gun mounts were the subject of the most important of these experiments.

From Project Gutenberg