self-select
verb
self-se·lect
ˌself-sə-ˈlekt
self-selected; self-selecting; self-selects
1
transitive
: to select (something) by or for oneself
People tend to self-select the environments that fit their needs.—Cynthia M. Allen
2
intransitive
: to select oneself as opposed to being selected
especially
: to opt in or out of something (such as a group, activity, or category) in accordance with one's personality, interests, etc.
As always, remember that our Twitter polls are unscientific, because respondents self-select … —Eric C. Evarts
We self-select into partisan echo chambers, staying far away from dissenting voices on social media and cable news. —Brian Klaas
… a compensation structure that rewards profitable growth and encourages low performers to self-select out of the organization. —Patrick Burke
3
intransitive
: to attract or involve individuals who tend to have a particular characteristic
… analysis of social-media responses self-selects for people who actually want to share their thoughts.—Adrian Lee
self-selected
adjective
a self-selected name
an unrepresentative, self-selected sampling
self-selection
noun
plural self-selections
student self-selection of reading materials
self-selection of survey respondents
The method helped researchers rule out self-selection bias, or the possibility that people who seek out dental care are different—perhaps healthier in general—than those who don't.
—Sarah Yang
Cite this Entry
“Self-select.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-select. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.
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