self-liquidating
|self-liq-ui-dat-ing|
/ˌsɛlfˈlɪkwɪdeɪtɪŋ/
pays for itself
Etymology
'self-liquidating' is a compound formed from English 'self' and the verb 'liquidate'. 'self' originates from Old English 'self' where it meant 'the same' or 'by oneself', and 'liquidate' ultimately comes from Latin 'liquidare' meaning 'to make liquid' or 'to settle (a debt)'.
'liquidare' passed into Old French (as a verb that evolved into forms like 'liquider') and then into Early Modern English as 'liquidate'; combining it with the English prefix/word 'self' produced the compound 'self-liquidating' in modern financial usage.
Originally, 'liquidate' meant 'to make liquid' and then 'to settle or pay a debt'; over time the compound 'self-liquidating' came to mean specifically 'able to pay for itself' (i.e., generating funds to settle its own costs or obligations).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
describing an asset, loan, project, or operation that generates enough cash flow to pay off its own costs or debt without additional funding.
The company financed its seasonal inventory with a self-liquidating loan that was repaid as merchandise sold.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/06 00:14