self-development

noun

self-de·​vel·​op·​ment ˌself-di-ˈve-ləp-mənt How to pronounce self-development (audio)
-dē-
plural self-developments
: development of one's own capabilities or possibilities
Writing has been for a long time my major tool for self-instruction and self-development.Toni Cade Bambara
a self-development course/program

Examples of self-development in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There is no overcoming the situation; rather, the CEO’s mindset and self-development require attention to prevent excessive overwhelm and unintended behaviors from manifesting. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025 The reason is that there is always room for self-development, and that often includes learning to set limits with people and things that threaten your well-being. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 27 Jan. 2025 Personal: Categories include health, family, social life and self-development. Andrey Fadeev, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025 Plus, fantasy is an important part of our self-development. Katie McDonough, Curbed, 7 Jan. 2025 Their child-free lifestyle fuels frequent travel and personal growth, with 88% directing their income toward enriching experiences and self-development, while 76% credit their child-free status for enabling these pursuits. Brooke Seipel, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2024 The author provides a string of personal insights and actionable tactics that emphasize key leadership traits, such as self-development and sustainable growth. Serenity Gibbons, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 Daily meditation, journaling, and self-development through divination, including oracle and tarot cards, gave McMurray a sense of purpose and became a lifeline while battling chronic illness. Tonya Abari, Essence, 27 July 2024 Shah started dabbling with making YouTube videos about personal finance and self-development in December 2021 — and now has over 1 million subscribers on YouTube. Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 10 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-development was in 1817

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Cite this Entry

“Self-development.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-development. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

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