1. The ability of an organism to produce its own food from inorganic substances, typically through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, without consuming other organisms.
Usage: Biology term; Commonly used in ecology and microbiology

Examples

• Plants exhibit autotrophy by converting sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
• Autotrophy is a key characteristic that distinguishes plants from animals.
• Certain bacteria rely on autotrophy, using chemical energy instead of light.
• The autotrophy of algae makes them important producers in aquatic ecosystems.
• Scientists study autotrophy to understand how organisms at the base of food chains obtain energy.