Standard Lemma guide

self-propelled

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Having its own means of propulsion that moves with it.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: automotive, self-propelling

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

moved forward by its own force or momentum

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a self-propelled egotist
  • the arms program is now self-propelled

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: self-propelling

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

containing within itself the means of propulsion or movement

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a self-propelled vehicle

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: automotive, self-propelling

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *swé? Proto-Indo-European *selbh-der. Proto-Germanic *selbaz Old English self Old English self- Middle English self- English self- English propelled English self-propelled From self- + propelled.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Albanian: vetëlëvizës — having its own means of propulsion
  • Finnish: itseliikkuva — having its own means of propulsion
  • French: auto-tracté — having its own means of propulsion
  • Georgian: თვითმავალი (tvitmavali) — having its own means of propulsion
  • Georgian: თვითმოძრავი (tvitmoʒravi) — having its own means of propulsion
  • German: selbstfahrend — having its own means of propulsion
  • Irish: féinghluaiste — having its own means of propulsion
  • Italian: semovente — having its own means of propulsion
  • Macedonian: самоо́ден (samoóden) — having its own means of propulsion
  • Norwegian Bokmål: selvgående — having its own means of propulsion
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: sjølvgåande — having its own means of propulsion
  • Polish: samobieżny — having its own means of propulsion
  • Russian: самохо́дный (samoxódnyj) — having its own means of propulsion
  • Russian: самодви́жущийся (samodvížuščijsja) — having its own means of propulsion
  • Spanish: autopropulsado — having its own means of propulsion
  • Swedish: självgående — having its own means of propulsion
  • Turkish: kendi kendine hareket eden — having its own means of propulsion
  • Turkish: kendinden tahrikli — having its own means of propulsion
Real reading context

self-propelled in complete knowledge articles