self-starter

self-starter — noun

1. a person who can begin and complete tasks on their own, without needing instruct

1.nounB2
Definition

a person who can begin and complete tasks on their own, without needing instructions or encouragement from a manager or teacher

Example

The job advert asks for a self-starter who can work without close supervision.

work without close supervision — collocation in job ads

Theo is a true self-starter — he taught himself to code and built his own app.

Common collocations
  • a real self-starter
  • act as a self-starter
  • look for self-starters
  • hire a self-starter
  • true self-starter
Synonyms
  • go-getter

    more informal; emphasises drive and persistence rather than independent work style

  • high achiever

    focuses on results and reaching goals, not on how the person works

  • independent worker

    a descriptive phrase rather than a fixed compound noun

Antonyms
  • follower

    someone who needs direction from others before acting

Grammar Patterns

a + self-starter

self-starter + relative clause

Usage Note

Common in job descriptions and performance reviews. The compound always keeps the hyphen (self-starter), unlike related adjectives such as 'self-starting.' This sense is now far more frequent than the original mechanical meaning.

Common Mistakes

She self-started the new project on her first day.
She is a self-starter who launched the new project on her first day.
self-starter is a noun, not a verb.

2. a motor in a vehicle that uses electricity to turn the engine's main shaft until

2.nounC1
Definition

a motor in a vehicle that uses electricity to turn the engine's main shaft until the engine begins running on its own

Example

The mechanic replaced the old self-starter and the engine fired up immediately.

mechanical context: replace a self-starter / engine fires up

Ravindra turned the key but the self-starter made a clicking sound and nothing happened.

Common collocations
  • replace a self-starter
  • faulty self-starter
  • self-starter clicks
  • self-starter fails
Synonyms
  • starter motor

    the dominant modern term in both British and American English; more precise

  • cranking motor

    technical term used mainly by engineers and mechanics

Grammar Patterns

the + self-starter

self-starter + verb (break, fail, click)

Usage Note

This is the original, literal meaning, dating from early automobile engineering (Cadillac introduced electric self-starters around 1911). Now much less common than sense 1 in everyday speech; 'starter motor' is the preferred term in modern repair manuals.

Word family

  • self-starting
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three describe someone who performs well without external pressure, but they differ in focus. A 'self-starter' emphasises the ability to begin tasks independently — someone who does not wait to be told what to do. A 'go-getter' is more informal and highlights energetic persistence even in the face of obstacles ('she is a real go-getter who knocked on every door'). 'High achiever' focuses on results — this person consistently reaches ambitious targets, regardless of how they work. 'Self-motivated person' is a broad descriptive phrase rather than a fixed label and can apply to any area of life. In a job description, 'self-starter' pairs naturally with 'works independently,' while 'go-getter' pairs with 'takes initiative under pressure.'

go-getterhigh achieverself-motivated person

Etymology

EnglishEnglish

The word 'self-starter' was first used in early 20th-century automotive engineering for the electric motor that replaced the dangerous hand-crank method of starting a car engine. Cadillac began fitting electric self-starters in 1912, making cars far easier and safer to operate. By the mid-20th century, the term was extended through metaphor to people who 'start themselves' — i.e., who act on their own initiative without needing a push from an outside source.