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

The emotional incompatibility of self-care Applebaum said that even those who can overcome the practical obstacles often still struggle to take care of themselves. — Elissa Strauss, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

As late-summer routines become more structured and fall calendars fill up, an at-home recovery product can become part of a small but meaningful self-care habit. — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Some people keep a regular treat schedule or pair the moment with another form of self-care like reading or taking a bath. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

This may mean walking away, leaving the room, gathering their thoughts, taking some deep breaths, listening to music, or engaging in whatever self-care practice works for them. — Parents, 24 Aug. 2026

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