self-awareness

noun

self-aware·​ness ˌself-ə-ˈwer-nəs How to pronounce self-awareness (audio)
: an awareness of one's own personality or individuality

Examples of self-awareness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web What sets the the artist up for success is her self-awareness. Jasmine Browley, Essence, 7 June 2024 There, a fascination with Ufology melded with esoteric spirituality, government conspiracy, alt-celebrity culture and a bit of self-awareness about how loopy this can all get. August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2024 From birth, everyone needs to develop emotional intelligence as their self-awareness and social skills are forming. Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2024 Where to Watch Every Season of Survivor Thousands of applications pour in each year, but according to Probst, in order to stand out, aspiring contestants need to show drive, self-awareness and authenticity. Emily Weaver, Peoplemag, 31 May 2024 And Silicon Valley tech bros (who are hosting a Trump fundraiser next week) also jumped on board, apparently thrilled with any candidate that doesn’t come with societal norms or self-awareness. Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024 Explore philosophies that give you a better self-awareness and get you closer to the true meaning of your life. Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 30 May 2024 This helps Gen Zers build confidence, resilience, and self-awareness—qualities that are essential for pursuing professional growth throughout their careers. Ian Sandler, Fortune, 24 May 2024 Lapis lazuli is also said to bring inner peace and increase self-awareness, which can help bring Gemini’s duality into balance. Valerie Mesa, Peoplemag, 21 May 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-awareness.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-awareness was in 1876

Dictionary Entries Near self-awareness

Cite this Entry

“Self-awareness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-awareness. Accessed 17 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

self-awareness

noun
self-aware·​ness
ˌsel-fə-ˈwa(ə)r-nəs,
-ˈwe(ə)r-
: an awareness of one's own personality or individuality

Medical Definition

self-awareness

noun
self-aware·​ness
: an awareness of one's own personality or individuality

More from Merriam-Webster on self-awareness

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!