self

1 of 5

noun

ˈself How to pronounce self (audio)
 Southern also  ˈsef
plural selves ˈselvz How to pronounce self (audio)
 Southern also  ˈsevz
1
a(1)
: an individual's typical character or behavior
her true self was revealed
(2)
: an individual's temporary behavior or character
his better self
b
: a person in prime condition
feel like my old self today
2
: the union of elements (such as body, emotions, thoughts, and sensations) that constitute the individuality and identity of a person
3
: personal interest or advantage
4
a
: the entire person of an individual
b
: the realization or embodiment of an abstraction
5
: material that is part of an individual organism
ability of the immune system to distinguish self from nonself

self

2 of 5

pronoun

: myself, himself, herself
a check payable to self

self

3 of 5

adjective

1
a
: having a single character or quality throughout
specifically : having one color only
a self flower
b
: of the same kind (as in color, material, or pattern) as something with which it is used
self trimming
2
obsolete : identical, same
3
obsolete : belonging to oneself : own

self

4 of 5

verb

selfed; selfing; selfs

transitive verb

1
2
: to pollinate with pollen from the same flower or plant

intransitive verb

: to undergo self-pollination

self-

5 of 5

combining form

1
a
: oneself or itself
self-supporting
b
: of oneself or itself
self-abasement
c
: by oneself or itself
self-propelled
self-acting
2
a
: to, with, for, or toward oneself or itself
self-consistent
self-addressed
self-love
b
: of or in oneself or itself inherently
self-evident
c
: from or by means of oneself or itself
self-fertile

Examples of self in a Sentence

Noun She showed her better self at the party. Her public self is very different from her private self. Philosophers have written about the conception of the self. Adjective a self-red rose of a shade that hasn't been seen before
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Only Sunny Hostin seemed her normal self, keeping her composure and her wits about her. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024 Inside lie interviews with perfumer Fanny Bal, musings on the relationship between fragrance and self, and more. Noor Lobad, WWD, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The women's brains showed a clear divide between the areas of the brain activated by self and non-self MHCs. Breanna Draxler, Discover Magazine, 24 Jan. 2013 An inspector’s notes also stated there were cardboard containers on the floor, a non-self closing restroom door, no training documentation for the staff. Pam McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2023 See all Example Sentences for self 

Word History

Etymology

Pronoun

Middle English (intensive pronoun), from Old English; akin to Old High German selb, intensive pronoun, and probably to Latin suus one's own — more at suicide

Combining form

Middle English, from Old English, from self

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1905, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of self was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near self

Cite this Entry

“Self.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

self

1 of 3 pronoun
ˈself How to pronounce self (audio)
 Southern also  ˈsef
: myself sense 1, himself, herself
check that can be paid to self
a room for self, son, and daughter

self

2 of 3 noun
ˈself
plural selves
ˈselvz,
 Southern also  ˈsevz
1
: a person thought of as an individual apart from everyone else
2
: a particular side of a person's disposition
your better self
3
: personal interest
without thought of self

self-

3 of 3 combining form
1
a
: oneself or itself
self-pitying
b
: of oneself or itself
self-destructive
self-sacrifice
c
: by oneself or itself
self-made
self-propelled
2
a
: to, with, for, or toward oneself or itself
self-addressed
b
: of or in oneself or itself
self-evident
c
: from or by means of oneself or itself
self-fertile

Medical Definition

self

noun
plural selves ˈselvz How to pronounce self (audio)
1
: the union of elements (as body, emotions, thoughts, and sensations) that constitute the individuality and identity of a person
2
: material that is part of an individual organism
ability of the immune system to distinguish self from nonself

More from Merriam-Webster on self

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