do-it-yourself

noun

do-it-your·​self ˌdü-i-chər-ˈself 

ˌdü-it-yər-

often attributive

: the activity of doing or making something (as in woodworking or home repair) without professional training or assistance

broadly : an activity in which one does something oneself or on one's own initiative

do-it-yourselfer

ˌdü-i-chər-ˈsel-fər 

ˌdü-it-yər-

noun

Examples of do-it-yourself in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sales from do-it-yourself customers have slowed as higher mortgage rates have decreased housing turnover and dampened homeowners' demand for larger projects because of higher borrowing costs. —Melissa Repko, CNBC, 30 June 2025

More people are searching for do-it-yourself chicken coops and purchasing from retailers frequently, according to recent reports and search trends. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025

Samantha Mui, 34, is the founder of Thirsty Dumpling, a do-it-yourself dumpling-making startup. —Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 27 May 2025

This large, xeric-focused, water-saving expanse has five do-it-yourself landscape displays. —Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 22 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for do-it-yourself

• bookshelf
• herself
• himself
• hisself
• itself
• meself
• myself
• nonself
• oneself
• thyself
• yourself
• elf

Kids Definition

do-it-yourself

adjective

do-it-your·​self

ˌdü-ə-chər-ˈself

: of, relating to, or designed for a person without professional training or help to do or make

do-it-yourselfer

-ˈsel-fər

noun