The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 plus 8 letter word FREE STANDING
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
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More clues leading to the result FREE STANDING
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "no support being required" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case no support being required = free standing.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does FREE STANDING mean?
FREE STANDING adjective- Not fixed in any way to a surface. Relying solely on the force of gravity to stay in place
- That stands alone, not supported at either side
- Independent, autonomous