self-care

noun

ˌself-ˈker 

: care for oneself

stroke victims capable of daily self-care

the necessity of busy working parents to take time for self-care

specifically : health care provided by oneself often without the consultation of a medical professional

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are a common route for self-care, and consumers are eagerly using them …

—Alison Stein Wellner

—sometimes used before another noun

At-home screening is one side of the burgeoning self-care movement …

—Stephen Rae

Examples of self-care in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Surrounding herself with friends is something Aniston previously told PEOPLE is one of her self-care methods. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025

The Queen of Pentacles reminds you to balance ambition with self-care in order to achieve this homeostasis. —Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2025

Guilt has trained you to equate self-care with betrayal. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025

Currently, Harrison is focused on Black men cultivating emotional intelligence, self-care and wellness. —Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-care

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare

Medical Definition

self-care

noun

-ˈke(ə)r 

: care for oneself : self-treatment