self-contained

comparative more self-contained · superlative most self-contained

1. Not requiring external or additional support; complete in itself.

   a self-contained apartment

   5 more examples

   The software is self-contained, and doesn't interface with anything except the user.

   Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus

   All these were based broadly on the management framework of the old companies, except that the former Southern and North Eastern Areas of the old L.N.E.R. became separate management units, while the former L.M.S.R. and L.N.E.R. lines north of the Border were fused into a self-contained Scottish Region.

   1958 January 28, 'Borderer', “Ten Years of British Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 13

   Each of these can be further sub-divided into self-contained divisions; the technical research department, for example, includes Engineering and Chemical Divisions.

   1961 February, R. K. Evans, “The role of research on British Railways”, in Trains Illustrated, page 92

   Whereas the history of the London Underground is generally very fiddly, the history of the Waterloo & City is blessedly self-contained and simple.

   2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 109

2. idiomaticOf a person, wrapped up in oneself; reserved.

1. participlepastsimple past and past participle of self-contain